Enahoro, Soyinka Lead Confab List: Ojukwu Shunned

FROM THE ARCHIVES

FEBRUARY 16, 2005

BY JIDE AJANI, BOLADE OMONIJO, OKEY NDIRIBE, CHARLES OZOEMENA, EMMANUEL AZIKEN & BEN. AGANDE (VANGUARD NIGERIA, FEBRUARY 16, 2005)

ABUJA - NIGERIA: Chief Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Lt.-General Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd.), Rev. Father Matthew Kukah and Dr. Bala Usman, among others, yesterday, topped the list of Federal Government nominees for the National Political Reform Conference.

But Professor Soyinka yesterday told Vanguard he would make his position on the nomination known this morning at a press conference in Lagos.

Other prominent Nigerians on the Federal Government list of nominees include Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Afe Babalola, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Alhaji Sule Katagum, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Dr. Olusola Saraki, Mrs Tejumade Alakija, Mrs Elizabeth Pam, Mrs Esther Audu and Air Commodore Emeka Omeruah (rtd).

The list makes provisions for three retired military personnel, two retired police personnel, two retired State Security Service (SSS) personnel and two retired civil servants.

However, the Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) yesterday in Lagos declared that the nomination of its leader, Chief Enahoro, and Professor Wole Soyinka by President Olusegun Obasanjo would not be accepted, just as the body fine-tuned plans for the convocation of its own national conference at a meeting of its planning committee.

In separate interviews with Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti and Baba Omojola, both PRONACO leaders, a strong indication emerged that PRONACO would not accept the nominations.

It was also a day when, against expressions of thanks by President Obasanjo to the National Assembly for its input into preparations for the proposed national conference, senators yesterday equally expressed divided opinion on the alleged support of the legislature for the confab.

Also, members of the House of Representatives are threatening to initiate contempt proceedings against President Obasanjo for going ahead with the conference while a litigation is pending before the courts.

PRONACO's position;

According to Dr. Ransom-Kuti, what the Federal Government has done is merely to nominate these people, clarifying that nominations do not automatically turn into acceptance. The two people in question have been merely nominated.

In another interview with Omojola, another PRONACO leader, he said: PRONACO would not sacrifice its hard earned credibility because of this government's National Political Reform Conference.

PRONACO would not accept the nominations.

Meanwhile, one of the high points discussed at yesterday's meeting, according to a PRONACO leader, was the decision of self-sponsorship for participating delegates. The delegates to attend the conference, according to the source, would be drawn from the plethora of ethnic nationality groups in the country, civil society groups, the professionals and any other such interest groups whose contribution would be meaningful not just to PRONACO but to Nigerians and the Nigerian federation.

It also requested ethnic nationalities to forward their names for compilation.

Among decisions taken yesterday at the meeting is the choice of the month of June and the city of Lagos for the convocation of its parallel conference.

PRONACO would soon publish a comprehensive list of ethnic nationalities in the country which are expected to participate in its conference. The purpose of publishing the list of ethnic nationalities would be to encourage ethnic nationalities that may have been omitted from the first list of participating nationalities to send forward the names of their delegates to the conference, said the source

Senators reply Obasanjo on funding; 

Senator Sule Yari Gandi dismissing the confab as an illegitimate assembly warned that the funding of the conference from any source not provided for by the National Assembly would amount to a violation of the constitution which would attract dire consequences for the President. He was, however, opposed by Senators Tokunbo Afikuyomi (AD, Lagos) and Ike Ekweremadu. Senator Afikuyomi on his part reiterated that the conference would not in anyway diminish the powers or functions of the National Assembly.

Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PDP, Cross River) on his part said the President's intentions would not in any way lead to a major crisis with the National Assembly.

In a nationwide broadcast Monday, President Obasanjo had shrugged off the refusal of the National Assembly to appropriate funds for the confab, saying he had resorted to creative means of sourcing money for the confab. He thanked the National Assembly for its input into the preparations for the confab, a phrase that seemingly confirmed speculations that the National Assembly leadership was collaborating with the presidency in funding the confab through contingency and security votes of the presidency.

Fending off accusations of double standards on the part of the National Assembly by secretly providing funding for a conference it has rejected, Senator Afikuyomi said: The president did not violate the Constitution and I think there are enough rooms in the Constitution that will allow him to creatively get the money to fund the conference,  Senator Afikuyomi said yesterday.

While affirming his support for a sovereign national conference, Senator Afikuyomi, nevertheless said he saw no reason to disagree with the President's intentions towards a national conference lacking sovereignty. There is nothing in section 7 or in the entire constitution that precludes Nigerians from talking. In fact, the constitution clearly supports freedom of assembly, association, freedom of speech, Afikuyomi, deputy minority whip of the Senate said.

Senator Gandi, however, threatened dire consequences should the President go ahead with the conference at public expense.

House members to initiate contempt charges;

For saying he would go ahead with the proposed national conference despite a pending court case against the conference, members of the House of Representatives opposed to the conference have vowed to initiate contempt action against the president. A member of the group, Mr. Faruk Adamu Aliyu told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the president's action was an outright disregard for the court process and he must be brought to book.

Mr Aliyu who is the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity said the group had instructed their lawyers to file the contempt proceedings against the president today. We have told our lawyers to get him charged for contempt of court because he was duly served with our court processes through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The action would be filed tomorrow (today), he said.

President Obasanjo announced in a nation-wide radio and television broadcast that the proposed national conference would be inaugurated on Monday, brushing aside the refusal by the National Assembly to appropriate money for the conference and the decision by some members to challenge the conference in court. He said the refusal by the National Assembly to appropriate money for the conference should serve as a challenge to both members of the conference and government.

Approved confab delegates' list:

RESPECTABLE ELDER STATESMEN
1. Dr. Uma Eleazu Abia
2. Senator MahmudWaziri Adamawa
3 Chief Ndaeyo Utah Akwa Ibom
4. (i) Chief Emeka Anyaoku Anambra,
(ii) Arthur Nwankwo Anambra
5.  (i) Alhaji Sule Katagum Bauchi,
(ii) Amb. MahlJ1oud Yahaya Bauchi
6. Mr. Serena Dokubo Bayelsa
7. (i) Chief Barnabas Gemade Benue,
ii) Chief Paul Unongo Benue
8. Dr. Shetima Mustapha Borno
9. Chief M. T. Mbu Cross River
10. Mrs. Stella Omu Delta
11. Chief Mrs. Mabel Aneke Ebonyi,
12. (i)Prof. Christie Okogie Edo
(ii)Chief Tony Enahoro Edo
13. Chief Afe Babalola Ekiti
14. Chief P. C. Egbogu Enugu
15. (i) Alhaji Usman Faruk Gombe,
(ii) Amb. Yerima Abdullahi Gombe
16. Dr. Kema Chikwe Imo
17. Alhaii Sule Lamido Jiqawa
18. (i) Mrs. Aisha Sadauki Kaduna,
(ii)Father Matthew Kukah Kaduna
19. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Kano
20. (i) Senator Ismaila Mamman Katsina,
(ii) Dr. Bala Usman, Katsina
21 Dr. Haiku Bello Mohamniecl Kebbi
22. (i) Chief E. O. Otitoju Kogi,
(ii) Prof. J. Idachaba Kogi
23. Dr. Olusola Saraki Kwara
24. Chief J. O. Williams Lagos
25. Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Dona Nasarawa
26. Senator Jibrin Salihu Niger
27 (i) Prof. Wole Soyinka Ogun,
(ii) Prof. Bayo Adedeji Ogun
28. Prof.Omotayo Olutoye Ondo
29. Mrs. Tejumade Alakija Osun
30. Dr. Lekan Are Oyo
31. Mrs. Elizabeth Pam Plateau
32. Dr. Chukwuemeka Nnan Obi Rivers
33. Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau Sokoto
34. Mrs. Salome Jankada Taraba
35. Alhaji Adamu Ciroma Yobe
36. Dr. Garba Nadama Zamfara
37. Mrs. Esther Audu FCT

 RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL:
Lt Gen Joshua Dogonyaro Plateau Army
Rear Admiral Hamzat Sani Kogi Navy
Air Commodore Emeka Omeruah Abia Air Force

 RETIRED SSS PERSONNEL:

Chief Joshua Fumudoh Delta
Alhaii Sada Ilu Katsina

 RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS
Ason Bur Benue
Mrs. F. Emanuel Lagos

 RETIRED DIPLOMATS

Amb. Usman Yola Kano
Amb. Dapo Fafowora Osun

STATE REPRESENTATIVES

ABIA STATE:
1. Dr. Sam Eke
2. Dr. J. C. Qqbonnaya
3. Chief Vincent Brown
4. Dr. Nnaukwu Ukoha.
5. Dr. John Austin Chikezie
6. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd.)

ADAMAWA STATE:
1. Mallam Abdulkarim Albashir
2. Prof. Musa Yakubu
3 Barr. Boss Mustapha
4 Dr. Aminu Gurin
5 Mr. Vidon Jaule
6 Saadu Maiyaki

AKWA 1BOM STATE
1. Mrs Ime Essien Udom
2. Senator E. Ibok Essien
3. Senator A. Ukpanah
4. Amb. Etim Okpoyo
5. .Mrs. Helen Esuene
6. I Dr. Ekeng Anamdu

ANAMBRA STATE:
1. Chief C. Ezeife
2. Barr. Zik Obi
3. Chief Mike Ajegbo
4. Engr. Chris Okoye
5. Chief Gabriel Akweze
6. Dr. Obi Ogene

BAUCHI STATE:
1.Alhaji M. Bello Kirfi
2.Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu
3.Amb. M. Adamu Jumba
4.Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame
5.Amb. M. C.i Abubakar
6. Mr. Habibu AIiyu

BAYELSA STATE:
Prof. Kimse Okoko
Barr. Oronto Douglas
Chief Francis Doukpola
Dr. Amb Ambaowei
HRM King A. P. Diete-Spiff
Chief L. Jonathan-Omo

BORNO STATE:
Alhaji Mohammed Goni
Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida
Amb. Baba Ahmed Jiddah
Alhaji M. Kagu Alibe
Prof. M. Nur Alkali
Alhaji M. Lawan Buba

CROSS RIVER STATE:
1.Dr. Joseph Wayas
2.Chief M. Offoboche
3.Ntufam (Dr.) Sandy Onoh .
4.Dr. Otu Abam Ubi
5.Chief Oqban Ebock
6.Brig. Gen. B. Asuquo:

DELTA STATE:
1.Mr. Sylvester 1. Moemeke
2.Rear Admiral M. Onah
3.Deacon G. O. Onosode
4.Prof.. Omafume Onoge
5.Chief E. Kiagbodo Clark
6.Prof. Itse Sagay

EDO STATE:
1. Mr. A. O. Eqhobamienl
2.Chief Sam Iredia
3.Prof. R. A. Anao
4.Chief C. Abebe
5. Admiral Mike Akhigbe
6.Mr. Tunde Lakoju

EKITI STATE:
1. Chief S. K. Babalola
2. Prof. Isola Olomola
3.Barr. Dele Adesina
4.Barr. Sole Akinyede
5.Barr. Akin Omole
6.Dr. (Mrs.) Ibidayo Alebiosu

ENUGU STATE:
1.Chief S. Nnaemeka Orji .,
2 Iqwe S. C. Nnamani
3.Rev.. H. U. Onuaguluchi
4.Chief C Nkem Okoye -
5.Chief B. Anaezionwu Eze
6. Chief Hon. Okey Fred Agu

GOMBE STATE:
1.Senator M. Uba Ahmed
2.Prof. Idris Mohammed
3.Alhajj Magaji Mu'azu
4.Hon. Nuhu Poloma
5.Alhajj A. Aliyu Deba
6.Alhaji A. Mu'azu Hassan

IMO STATE:
1.Justice C. Oputa
2. Barr. B. Nwakanma
3. Chief E. C. Iwuanyanwu
4. Dr. Douglas Acholonu
5. Chief Ziggy Azuike
6. Chief Chika Okafor\

JIGAWA STATE:
1.HRH N. Hussaini Adamu
2.Alhaji Suleiman Baffa
3.Alhaji M. Bashari Gumel
4.Hajia Fatima Maiborno
5.Alhaji Aminu Ringim
6. Alhaji T. Inuwa Dutse

Kaduna STATE:
1.Dr. Umaru Dikko
2. Alh. Ja'afaru Makarfi
3.Prof. Ango Abdullahi
4.Alh. Abdulkadir Jibrin
5. Dr. Chris Abashiya
6. Mr. Emmanuel Toro

KANO STATE:
1. Alhaji Magaji Dambatta
2. Alhaji Sule Hamma
3. Prof. Auwalu Yadudu
4. Alh. Isyaku Tofa
5. Dr. Haruna Salihi
6. Alh. M. T. Waziri

KATSINA STATE:
1. Alh. G. Ja Abdulkadir
2.Alh. Saidu Barda
3. Alh. Ibrahim Coomassie
4. Alhaji Kabir Daura
5. Alhaji Tukur Mani
6. Barr. Ibrahim Shema

KEBBI STATE:
1. Col. Bello Kaliel (rtd.)
2. Alh. lsa Mohammed
3. Sen. N. Abdullahi
4. Prof. Attahiru ]ega
5. Alh. Abdullahi Ahman
6. Dr. Sa'idu Birnin Yauri

KOGI STATE:
1. Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim
2. Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd.)
3. Gen. D.M. Jemibewon
4. Dr. G. T. N. Ajakpo
5. Engr. Ahmed Onogo
6. Mr. Joseph Suleiman

KWARA STATE:
1. Alhaji Saidu Isa
2. Alhaji Mahmood Ibrahim
3. Prof. Albert F. Ogunsola
4. Hon. Kola Shittu
5. Alh. Ayinla Folorunsho
6. Alh. Abubakar Baraje

LAGOS STATE:
1. Alhaji Femi Okunnu
2. Sen. Sikiru Shitta-Bey
3. Chief Hamzat Adebowale
4. Enqr. Ahmed Onipede
5. Mr. O. Bashorun
6. Mrs. Tawa Williams

NASARAWA STATE:
1. Alhaji Zakari Yakubu
2. Mr. Dogara Igube
3. Mr. James Kpason
4. Alhaji Yakubu Kwarra
5. Grp. Capt. U.Jibrin (Rtd.)
6. Mr. Tanimu Adabson

NIGER STATE:
1. Lt. Gen. G. Duba (rtd.)
2. Prof. S. A. Jibrin Bida
3. Alh. Abubakar Magaji
4. Barr. Umaru Kawu
5. Hon. Dahiru Kuta
6. Alh. Isiyaku Jikantoro

ONDO STATE:
1. Dr. Olaiya Oni
2. Dr. Ade Abitoye
3. Dr. Femi Adekanye
4. Dr. Tayo Dairo
5. Admiral Akin Aduwo
6. Chief Olusola Oke

OSUN STATE:
1. Justice B. Babalakin
2.Chief Ebenezer Babatope
3. Dr. OIu Alabi
4. Hon. Dosu Oladipo
5.Prof. A. A. Ayoade
6. Dr. Wale Oladipo

OYO STATE:
1. Chief Sunday Adewusi
2. Prince Jibola Afonja
3. Chief R. O. Akinjide
4. Chief M. F. Faqbohun
5. Chief Bayo Oyero
6. Barr. Bayo Shittu

RIVERS STATE:
1.Chief Albert Horsfall
2.Chief Sampson Agbaru
3.Chief Barinua Wifa
4.Dr. Silas Eneyo
5.Barr. Akeodi Oyaghiri

CONTINUES TOMORROW