Press Release
Mega parley constitute high powered steering team
The Chief Anthony Enahoro led national consultation towards the formation of the mega party in Nigeria has set up a high powered Steering Committee to drive the process of convening the national political summit and bringing together all interested political parties in the country.
This was the highpoint of the two day consultative sessions held in Lagos on Tuesday and Wednesday under the chairmanship of Elder statesman, Anthony Enahoro. According to a statement by the secretariat of the Summit Group, the steering committee will henceforth lead and organise the activities of the movement towards the hosting of the National Political Summit holding sometimes in May this year.
Some of the top politicians who were elected into the Steering team from their various zones and parties includes; Dr Tunji Braithwaite, the leader of Nigeria United For Democracy, NUD, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Southeast, Dr Usman Bugaje, National Secretary of the Action Congress, AC, Alhaji Balarabe Musa,CNPP Leader, Barrister Femi Falana, Chairman, NCP, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Southsouth, Dr Arthur Nwankwo, Southeast, Alhaji Umar Kareto,AC Deputy Chaiman, Northeast Senator Ohiare, Middle belt, Alhaji A V Muktar, Northeast, Chief Harry Akande, ANPP, Southwest, Dr SuleHamma, Buhari Organisation, North west, Chief Dapo Sarumi ,PDM/ AC, Southwest
Others are; Alhaji Sulaimon Argungu,ANPP, Nortwest, General Jeremiah Useni,DPP, North central, Chief Dubem Onyiam, (AC) Southeast, Chief Tom Ikimi, Action Congress (AC ),Southsouth, Chief Ebitimi Amgbare, Action Congress, Southsouth, Hon Rasheed Shitta- Bey, National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy, Barrister Shitien, Middle- belt, Dr Dauda Birma, Northeast, Alhaji Shettimah Yerima, Northwest, Group Captain Sam Ewang, ANPP, Southsouth , Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, AC Northeast, among others in the 30 member team
Addressing the plenary of the group yesterday Chief Anthony Enahoro, Cfr, who inaugurated the team said “a great battle is ahead of us and all Nigerians must be ready to join forces with this team to recover Nigeria from imminent national chaos”
He said “except we all come together to form a common platform at the forthcoming summit and chase the enemies of our people out of power, the nation may not witness any progress”
Alhaji Lateef Jakande, while speaking to the press, said the mega platform has come to stay to the shock of the PDP and some its agents posturing as progressives and that the proposed mega party has resolved to lead the people into a new Nigeria with abundance economic prosperity.
Briefing the media on the outcome of the parley, Mr Wale Okunniyi, Head of NPSG Secretariat said the group has resolved to mobilise a granite coalition of a broad movements with a view to forming a Mega-Political-Party in order to give Nigerians and our fledgling democracy a new lease of life but alerted the public on the moves of some politicians posturing on behalf of Yar’ adua to create confusion about the process.
His words “We also want to warn those currently posturing as progressives on behalf Yar’ adua in order to create confusion about the ongoing mega process to desist before we expose them”
He however said there are ongoing efforts to harmonise all other efforts towards creating a genuine mega alternative platform for the country under the leadership of Chief Anthony Enahoro. He said discussions in that direction have entered advance stage.
Furthermore, Okunniyi said the group is agreed on the following issues:-
1. To initiate consultative process towards the formation of a Mega Political Party, whose name, manifesto and constitution will be formalised at the forthcoming National Summit.
2. To hold the Political Summit without further delay.
3. To work towards holding the Summit at Abuja, mid May 2009
5. To draft a Bill on the 1 st Electoral Amendment of the 1999 Constitution to be submitted to the National Assembly
Okunniyi said some of the highlights of the draft bill include;
1. The President and Governors should be prevented from appointing chairman and key officials of the National and State Electoral Commissions.
2. The National Judicial Council as recommended by the ERC should through public advertisement select key officials at both the national and state Electoral Commissions.
3. Six months timeline for adjudication of all election disputes before swearing of eventual winners and a process led electoral programme.
4. The Burden-of-Proof in electoral petitions should rest squarely on Electoral Commission.
It will be noted that Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and General Muhammadu Buhari were represented by Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf and Mallam Sule Hamma respectively. The consultation was also attended by the Lagos Branch of PPA.
The newly inaugurated steering team is expected meet in a fortnight.
Signed
Olubori Obafemi
For NPSG
018041757
