National Conference: Delegates demand reform of government structure

National Conference in plenary

A delegate canvassed three vice presidential slots, rotation of presidency, governorship and inclusion of Office of First Lady in Constitution.
More delegates to the National Conference, on Tuesday canvassed for the reform of the structure of government to ensure more participation of Nigerians and its component units in governance at the federal and state levels.
A delegate of Abia State, Joshua Ogbonnaya, called for the creation of three vice presidential positions with one of the vice presidents coming from the same zone as the President of the country.
Mr. Ogbonnaya, a professor and surgeon, who said he had attended two previous national conferences, said the 1994/95 Confab, made the recommendation, which was never implemented.
He explained that with three vice presidents in a government, succession dispute would be minimised as the vice president from the same zone as the president would take over power in the event that the president died or impeached.
He said the National Conference would need to collaborate with the National Assembly in the implementation of its resolutions because the conference was not a Constituent Assembly.
A former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Bayo Ojo, on his part canvassed the rotation of the presidency among the geo-political zones to ensure equity in the distribution of political power.
He also called for the governorship seats to be rotated among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states.
“This is the only way we can enthrone fairness, equity and good conscience,” Mr. Ojo, a delegate of North Central zone, said.
He lamented the illiteracy level in Nigeria, saying a recent report indicated that 1/3 of the Nigerian population could neither read nor write.
As a way of emancipating the illiterate Nigerians, the former minister suggested that education should be made free at the primary and secondary level in all parts of the country.
He stated that some of the nation’s founding fathers, particularly the late Premier of Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, provided free education and that it could still be replicated in the modern Nigeria.
A delegate of the National Council of Women’s Society, NCWS, Patricia Ogbonnaya, demanded the inclusion of the Office of the First Lady at both the national and state levels in the constitution.
She recounted the roles played by a former First Lady, Mariam Babangida, as well as the incumbent, Patience Jonathan, saying they have brought hope to Nigerians, particularly the womenfolk.
Abdullahi Ohoiman, an elder statesman, called for a “radical legislation” to make the abandonment of projects an impeachable offence.
The delegate, who hails from Edo State, expressed his unhappiness that abandoned projects littered every corner of the country. He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs should also not embark on any new projects until the previous ones initiated were completed.
Mr. Ohoiman also asked the Conference to recommend a provision for punitive measures against the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance if they fail in their roles of budget making and implementation.
A representative of the retired military officers, O. Ohadomere said they were being owed pension arrears running into N40 billion and pleaded with the conference to intervene in the matter because of the sacrifice the officers made to the growth and sustenance of the country.
“It is not a loan; it is arrears of their pension. How is this good for the sacrifice they made to this nation?” he said, noting that the Federal Ministry of Finance had reneged on numerous promises to pay the money.
A representative of Nigerians in Diaspora (Africa), Victor Okobi, said the 19.5 million Nigerians living abroad should be given the opportunity to participate in the country’s political structure.
Mr. Okobi said the development of Nigeria lies with her citizens living abroad just as he assured that they could raise $40 billion for that purpose. He did not, however, specify the period the money could be raised.
A former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lanre Ogundipe, who is representing the Union, canvassed some level of grants for journalists as it was done in other countries.
Stating that journalists have played a crucial role in the sustenance of Nigeria and the restoration of democratic rule, Mr. Ogundipe said the Nigerian press have not got total freedom.