Date Published: 08/28/11

National Stability: Eminent Leaders forms movement to meet President Jonathan, David Mark & Speaker Tambuwal

Amid growing tension in the country orchestrated by bombings in parts of the country; and the seeming inability of government to handle the situation, a gathering of eminent persons, Constitutional experts and frontline political leaders in the country, which converged on Port Harcourt on Saturday to dissect and find constitutional solution to the state of the Nigerian Union rose from a two day National Political Dialogue to call on the Federal Government to set up a    national constitutional convention for the country

The meeting which kicked off on the day the United Nations House in Abuja was bombed was facilitated by an eminent persons group called Project Nigeria (National Consensus Group) to chart the way for political negotiation and stability in the country

The consultation, which was facilitated by frontline Constitutional lawyer and political activist, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, was attended by and received goodwill messages from eminent political leaders in the country, including Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Comrade Abduwaheed Omar, NLC President, represented by his deputy, Comrade Promise Adewusi, Okwadike Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Alhaji Danlami Basharu, President of Persons Living With Disability in Nigeria, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Dr Kunle Olajide of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Alhaji Mujaheeed Asari Dokubo, Dr Arthur Nwankwo, Hajia Fatimah AbdulKareem of NAWOJ, Che Olawale Okunniyi of PRONACO, Comrade Miabiye Kuromiema, Leader of Ijaw Youth Council, Senator Sulaimon Salau, Ms Ann Kio Briggs, Prince Collins Eselemo among others

The forum also received strong intellectual inputs from a group of erudite scholars and experts on constitution making including Prof Akin Oyebode of the Nigeria Institute of Advance Legal Studies, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States and former Director General Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof George Obiozor, Dr Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional expert and founder of Human Rights Africa, Chief Mike Ozekwome, SAN, founder of the Universal Defender of Democracy,    Dr Otive Igbuzor, Country Director, Action Aid, Dr Jerome Okolo, Secretary of the National Think Tank, who all participated in the inaugural colloquium of the group held at the confab

The group also received cogent apologies from eminent leaders who could not make the meeting due to the ongoing Muslim fast and emergency situations; namely Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who had a previous engagements, Alhaji Maitama Sule, who was observing the Ramadan but promised to send in a recorded speech of his position on Nigeria’s political reforms, Dr Lateef Adegbite, who sent a short memo in from Canada, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who was observing the Ramadan fast, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who had a last minute engagements, Prof Jerry Gana, who had to preside over a last minute family commitment, Chief Richard Akinjide, who had a foreign engagement, Hajia Ramata Usman of National Council of Women Societies, whose attendance was prevented by emergency attention to the victims of the bomb blast at the United Nations House.

Apologies was also received from some foremost experts and scholars, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Leader Of the Patriots, who was receiving an all time achievers Award from the Government of Anambra on the same day, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, former foreign affairs minister, Prof Adele Jinadu of CASS, Prof Onje Gye Wado, who lost a close family relations, Dr Jibo Ibrahim, Director of Centre for Democracy and Development, who had a national assignment in Abuja among others

The Parley noted with concerns recent bombings across the country particularly the new dimension in the attack on United Nations Building in Abuja and the magnitude of casualties recorded at the incident. Stakeholders viewed the position of the “Boko Haram” the group that has claimed responsibility for many of these acts, and of other similar groups, as compelling enough for the reexamining the nature of the Nigerian polity.

The leaders also noted President Goodluck Jonathan courage and openness on the single tenure proposal and observed that though the proposal has strategically assisted the peoples of Nigeria to put the debate of the desired political reforms of Nigeria on the front burners it is not fundamental panacea to resolving Nigeria’s democratic challenges

The forum however resolves among others;

·           To champion the process of engaging, mobilizing and organizing stakeholders in the Nigerian Project including Leader of the Nigerian Governments; to initiate an agenda that can bring about sustainable harmony and stability of the country.

·           To advocate the establishment of “National Constitutional Convention”   that will bring about a popularly negotiated   constitution   for Nigeria

·           To constitute a Team of Experts to be supported by the group’s secretariat to review all constitutional issues and processes in previously operated or proposed constitutions by governments and the civil society

·           The Parley mandated the Team of Experts   to undertake   necessary   ground work to   recommend

1.          The theory base and Rationale and for a people’s constitution

2.         Agenda and Issues to be addressed at the National Constitutional Convention

3.         Composition and procedure for convening the National constitutional Convention and;

4.         A draft bill for an act to be enacted by the national assembly to empower the process of producing a people’s constitution.

5.          To present its recommendations to the body not later than 1 st  October.