First you must understand that in our present dispensation of democracy, there is a sacred document called the "constitution;" and there is three branches of government whose duties entails upholding this sacred document and respecting the rule of law to which theree are representavives from the federation.

Let Bature and his kinsmen worry about how they'll fare without us. All we want from them at this point is a good faith effort to meet and sign the agreement to part ways amicablly.

The Guardian Online - http://ngrguardiannews.com
Wednesday,June 27, 2001
Soyinka, others want real confab, deride monarchs' parley

From Laolu Akande, New York and Oma Djebah, Lagos

FOR the renowned Nigerian writer and social critic, Prof. Wole Soyinka, traditional rulers who have added their voices to the call for a Sovereign National Conference are not the people's representatives.

Therefore, according to the Nobel Laureate, they are not qualified to join the crusade for the conference.

Soyinka who spoke with The Guardian in the United States after receiving an honorary doctorate from Alberta University in Canada dismissed the monarchs as those "who are now trying to pretend" as the representatives of the people.

In a veiled reference to the infamous role of some of the monarchs in the heyday of the iniquitous regime of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Soyinka said: "I found it totally repugnant and repulsive, for some of those who dealt with dictators to now pretend as representatives of the people."

Although he said as one of the champions of the Sovereign National Conference, he supported the intensity the clamour it had generated in recent times, he insisted that the monarchs did not understand not could they articulate the issues at stake.

"We were involved, shouting, screaming in the democratic opposition in exile and in tandem with the opposition in Nigeria proposing for a Sovereign National Conference. We made this proposal to Abubakar in New York."

Soyinka said the same offer was made to President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that the conference was inevitable. He noted, however, that the conference now being championed is a watered-down version. According to Soyinka, since there are so many nationalities in Nigeria, the need to talk is vital. But he said it was nauseating that one of those leaders backing the call and arranging a meeting was fully involved with military dictators.

Soyinka also commented on the court case instituted by pro-democracy activists against former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar in the US. He said one of the lessons to be learnt from the case is that people who govern will be "answerable" for their governance, even after they leave power.

"See Milosevic in Yugoslavia, see Derby in Chad ... I am not prejudging the outcome, I am not saying Abubakar is guilty or not, that is not the issue here", Soyinka said, adding that what was important was that "the culture of impunity is broken" and that the importance of establishing people's rights was what was vital.

"People should know that someday they may be called to court to answer," he stated.

Soyinka was awarded a honorary doctorate of letters by the University of Alberta in Canda on June 12. According to the Chancellor of the University, Professor John Ferguson, "by accepting an Honorary Degree from the University of Alberta, Professor Soyinka brings great honour to our university." Ferguson added that "more importantly, he provides the university an opportunity to thank and acknowledge him for his devotion to the people and literature of his country, for his imaginative and vigorous advocacy of native culture and human rights and for the incredible good he has done for humanity. His life is exemplar of the values that post-secondary institutions cherish."

Soyinka, who has been widely honoured by universities across the world is currently holding two professional chairs in the US-one at the Emory University and another at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, monarchs and leaders of thought will meet with the presidency in Abuja today

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade who was the convener of the recent special meeting of monarchs and leaders of thought from the nations six geo-political zones will lead a high-powered delegation to Abuja.

Presidency sources hinted The Guardian yesterday that the objectives of the Ooni's team's mission to Aso Rock is "to discuss the modalities for the convocation of the proposed National Conference with President Olusegun Obasanjo and other key functionaries of government."

It was learnt that the meeting is at the instance of the Presidency who may have been swayed by the resolutions of the monarchs and leaders of thought from the nation's six geo-political zones, who met in Abuja recently.

But the pan-Yoruba socio-political and economc organisation, Afenifere, criticised yesterday Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the National Assembly for kicking against the convocation of the National Conference.

According to Afenifere, the attitude and actions of the National Assembly and the ACF leaders amount to trying to "stop the trian of Nigeria from moving forward especially when the vast majority of Nigerians are already on board."

The organisation which chided the National Association for "claiming that sovereignty resides in it maintained that "sovereignty resides with the Nigerian people and not any elected body or institution."

In a statement signed by the organisation's Publicity secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Afenifere challenged the National Asembly to conduct "a referendum, if they are in doubt, to lay the matter (National Conference) to rest once and for all".

He said: "The ACF leaders must realize that no one can stop the train of Nigeria from moving forward, especially when the vast majority of Nigerians are already on board. We appeal to them to join other Nigerians in this great enterprise that will bring all our people together to discuss all the issues and chart a new path for the future.

This is the best way in which they can demonstrate their avowed commitment to Nigerian unity and progress"

The ACF had recently denounced their northern representatives at the recent Abuja meeting of monarchs and leaders of thought "for being party to the plan to convene a National Conference."

By Oma Djebah, Clifford Ndujihe and Chukwuma Nwankanma

URGENT convocation of a National Conference to re-structure the federation is the only viable option for Nigeria's survival, the pan-Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze and the Union of Niger Delta (UND) declared at the weekend.

Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi also speaking in Lagos, warned that peace will continue to elude the nation until a conference is held to resolve issue of resource control.

Rising from a closed-door meeting in Lagos, at the weekend, Ohanaeze and UND noted that refusal to convene a National Conference to re-organise the federation to "reflect a truly federal union of Nigeria", is fraught with dangers.

Saluting the efforts of royal fathers and leaders of thought from the nation's six geo-political zones, for their recent meeting in Abuja and their insistence on a National Conference, they maintained that the restructuring of Nigeria is an imperative "because the present structure is wrong and too bureau-cratic and wasteful."

In the communique yet to be released, the two groups maintained that fiscal and political federalism are necessary realities which Nigeria must accept as a way of life if it is to make progress.

It was learnt that the resolution was endorsed on behalf of Ohaneze by its Secretary General, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), Insurance guru, Prof. Joe Irukwu and Dr. Okpogu while for the UND, Second Republic Senator, Chief David Dafinone, former External Affairs Minister, Chief Matthew Mbu, and former Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) chief, Chief Albert Horsefall, signed.

Despite opposition from the north-west and north-east zones, the committee of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thoughts which held a two-day parley in Abuja, voted for the convocation of National Conference as the way forward for Nigeria.

The meeting had resolved among other things that "a National Conference should be convened after due consultations, to address the various issues threatening the unity, peace and sovereignty of the Nigerian nation."

Consequently, a working committee was raised to work out the modalities for convening such a conference. The committee, which had Mbu and an unnamed Northerner as co-chairmen, with former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, as secretary, was mandated "to hold consultation and work out modalities for the proposed National Conference.

The work of the committee which had three representatives from each of the six geo-political zones, is reportedly being delayed by the refusal of the north-west and north-east, to forward their nominees to the committee.

Sources hinted that despite the two regions' lukewarm attitude, the other four zones are moving ahead to press for the immediate convocation of the conference.

An Ohaneze source hinted yesterday that the weekend meeting between Ohaneze and UND, is preparatory to another to comprise the six zones.

He said: "We are working. Now we in the south-east have come together, reached accord with the south-south. Our communique will soon be released. It is being worked out. And I am sure that by Wednesday it will be ready. We agreed on a National Conference, restructuring and the unity and indivisibility of one united Nigeria. From there, we would meet with the rest zones and all of us will come out again. We believe that a National Conference is something that cannot be wished away."

Meanwhile, former leader of secessionist Biafran Republic, Chief Ojukwu has said true peace may continue to elude Nigeria unless the issue of resource control was amicably and equitably resolved at a roundtable conference.

"There are problems in Nigeria. We want to discuss with other Nigerians to resolve those problems. Wanting to talk is not against anybody. The only person who it will be against is the person who has taken more than necessary and wants to hide it. There will be no true peace if you are enjoying what is others," Ojukwu said at a reception for Rochas Okorocha, former board chairman of National Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) in Lagos.

The reception which attracted notable Nigerians, including the Speaker, House of Representatives Ghali Umar Na'Abba, former governor of Cross River State Clement Ebri, elder-statesman and nationalist M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu and former administrator of Bayelsa State, O. Obi was organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo community in Lagos.

Clad in a flowing blue caftan with a black cap, Ojukwu amid cheers from the excited crowd said: "When we say we want to control our resources, what we mean is that we want to control the resources, not to take it away but to decide how it is exploited."

Dispelling apprehensions that the Igbo do not like Nigeria, the former governor of the Eastern Region added that "Ndigbo do not dislike Nigeria."

"We (Igbo) love Nigeria so much that wherever we go, you will think we want to take it up. No. It is so because of the love we have for Nigeria. We love Nigeria. We didn't fight Nigeria. We fought the Nigerian government of the time," he said.

Expressing the hope that the Eastern Region would come together to serve the general interest of the country, Ojukwu added: "Whenever it is said that the people of the South-East want a conference, the first thing you must realise is that the person who wants a conference does not want to fight. We want to make the Nigerian unity more perfect."

Indeed, reacting to Ojukwu's comments, Na'Abba said the "bane of our country is lack of justice," adding: "I agree with what Ojukwu said."

He urged the people to join hands with the government in the "difficult task of building our country" because "we shall continue to use our freedom to fight for the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria."

For Okorocha, that Nigeria is yet to assume economic independence in spite of abundant human and material resources is because "the leaders and elite of this nation have failed the country."

Also, Ebri, the chairman of the occasion who represented the former governor of old Imo State, Sam Mbakwe remarked that the agitation of the Igbo for the Presidency was possible, noting however, that Igbo had remained an enemy against herself.

"It is unfortunate that all the rubbishing of Igbo people are done by Igbo sons and daughters".

From Madu Onuora and Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna)

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday slammed the door on Sovereign National Conference, saying those canvassing for it are unpatriotic individuals and groups.

“The maintenance of the sovereignty of our country and preservation of our national unity is not negotiable. Neither will it be compromised. It is part of the democratic process that the people, through elections, do mandate their representatives to exercise this sovereignty on its behalf”.

Obasanjo was addressing members of the Armed Forces at the graduation of course 23rd Officers of Command and Staff College (CSC), Jaji at the weekend, as he urged them to be dedicated to professionalism and contribute positively to the democratic growth of the nation.

Specifically, the President who insisted on the non-negotiability of the unity of the country stated that “those who are insisting on a so-called Sovereign National Conference as a precondition for our continued existence as a nation are umpatriotic”.

Saying that “dialogue and consultation are fundamental to democracy”, Obasanjo noted: “there will always be conferences whether national or regional or parochial, but it is only those that have been elected by the people that can exercise soverignty on behalf of the people and that is democracy”.

For long, there have been agitations for a sovereign national conference to resolve recurring problem of ethnic nationalities and differences within the polity. Among others, traditional rulers, politicians, democracy activists, students, human rights groups and opinion leaders have joined in the agitation, believing it is the only way to preserve the country’s unity.

From Jane Ezereowu Abuja

LIKE pent-up emotion the national question re-echoed across the south eastern borders yesterday when the Abia State council of traditional rulers led by its chairman, Eze Ezo Ukandu warned that the unsettled but recurrent demands for a national conference was a threat to national unity.

But for the country to have relevance in international politics it must be stable and united, they noted.

The monarchs, who spoke during a courtesy visit to President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja, lamented that the long years of military rule had frustrated the nation's hopes of growth.

According to Eze Ukandu, "democracy is an exercise in dialogue as a means of resolving problems. Therefore the different sections of the country should dialogue to reach a mutual agreement and compromise on a workable basis for a united and strong country."

Ukandu said: "though various institutional reforms have been instituted by your administration, these should not becloud the need for a national dialogue. It is only through dialogue, compromise, deliberate and sound government polices that nations overcome such shortcomings. No constitution is perfect, even that of the United States of America."

Eze Ukandu who is also the chairman, forum of south-east traditional rulers, told President Obasanjo: "Your excellence, it is our view that if Nigeria must have any relevance in contemporary world politics, she must be domestically united, economically prosperous, politically stable and socially harmonious.

We reminded the president that because of the frustration, Nigeria are passing through hard times.

"We are aware that our people are passing through untold hardships in spite of the fact that God richly endowed us with human and national resources. Nigeria's social, economic and political problems are truly frightening. We are conscious of the fact that these problems were caused by long period of unbroken military dictatorship that bestrode our hand."

They also called for greater co-operation between tiers of government for the sustenance of peace and unity in the country, adding that there should be caution in the use of language, while immaturity should give way to mature and sober judgment on national issues.

"All of us have a stake in the unity of this country. Let us make it work, based on equity and justice."