Veteran politician and Second Republic Political Adviser, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has thrown his weight on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s National Dialogue and called on Nigerians, particularly, the North to get ready for discussions on how to remold Nigeria’s constitution.
Yakasai, who said there was nothing wrong to gather leaders of thought to brainstorm on the socio-political problems bedeviling the country’s development also lauded the idea of passing the outcome of the dialogue on the National Assembly for deliberations and considerations.
Going down memory lane in a statement made available to Pointblanknews.com in Kano, Yakasai gave instances of such meetings by previous administrations and urged Nigerians to embrace the National Conference with all sincerity.
To him, the country will come out better and stronger after the dialogue which he believed will tackle a myriad of problems facing Nigeria at the moment.
Yakasai’s views are not in tandem with that of some of his kinsmen who believe the National Conference was not in the interest of the North.
Former Governor of old Kaduna state, Alhaji Lawal Kaita in an interview with Pointblanknews.com on the issue vehemently opposed a National Conference saying, “the North did not ask for it.”
Kaita, a staunch promoter of 2015 northern president described the proposed National Conference as diversionary, “I don’t think it is necessary. I don’t believe in it. The North does not believe in it and we are not part of it,” he stated.
Pointblanknews.com investigations reveal that the argument on whether or not the North should participate in the National Dialogue is set to cause disaffection among northern opinion leaders and thus may result to poor outing by the region during the dialogue.
Already, the leadership Arewa Consultative Forum, the umbrella body promoting the interest of the North has commenced last minute consultations on the issue.
“It is going to be somewhat difficult. I must tell you that truly, the North is not prepared for this National Dialogue—but pressure from so many angles are making most of the northern leaders to change their mind.
“As I am talking to you now, ACF leadership is working round the clock to revive its chapters in all the states across the country, just as a series of meetings are on-going to ensure that the North speak with one voice on the issue of National Dialogue,” a strong member of ACF told Pointblanknews.com.
However, Tanko Yakasai has insisted that there is nothing wrong for President Jonathan to organize a National Conference while urging his kinsmen to accept the idea for the interest of the country.
According to him the approach adopted by President Jonathan remain in line with the previous governments in organizing debates or discussions on the Nigerian Constitution.
“During the Murtala/Obasanjo administration, a similar committee was setup by General Murtala Ramat Mohammed and he named it Constitution Review Committee, with the late Chief Rotimi Williams as its chairman. It was that Committee which was known as 49-member Committee, which prepared modalities for the 1978/79 Constituent Assembly, that recommended the adoption of the Presidential System of Government; and consequently adopted by the Constituent Assembly chaired by Hon. Justice UdoUdoma.
“During the era of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, another constitution review was undertaken. Prior to the inauguration of the Constituent Assembly by that regime, a Committee similar to the current Advisory Committee was appointed and was named Constitution Review Committee with Hon. Justice Muhammadu Buba Ardo as its chairman.”
He further stated that it was the Buba Ardo Committee that prepared modalities, under which 1988/89 Constituent Assembly which had Justice Anthony Aniagolu as its chairman was organized.
“Similarly, prior to 1994/95 Constitutional Conference, General Sani Abacha’s regime set up a similar Committee, which was known as Constitutional Conference Commission. It was that commission which worked out modalities for the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference. The Commission was headed by Hon. Justice Sa’idu Kawu.
“The 1994/95 Constitutional Conference, which was chaired by Hon. Justice KaribeWyte operated on the modalities prepared for the Conference by that Commission. Therefore, the appointment of the current National Dialogue/Conference Advisory Committee by the President, to work out modalities for National Dialogue is not only in tandem with the tradition established in similar circumstances, but it is also consistent with established precedence to create a platform to discuss matters affecting Nigeria’s Constitution.
“It is on record that all the previous Constitutional Conferences held in Nigeria, particularly, during the military era submitted their recommendations to the Supreme Military Counsel, which was then the legislative organ of government for promulgation.
“Now that we are under a democratic setting where powers to change or modify our Constitution are vested in the legislature, the President has no alternative than to submit whatever outcome emerges from proceedings of the intended National Dialogue/Conference to the National Assembly for consideration and action, where it deems necessary, as recommendations of the National Dialogue/Conference shall not be binding on the legislature.”