Agbaje missing from NatCon December 28, 2006 | posted by Mobolaji Aluko (Archives)

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Guardian

March 3, 2005

Missing from the (National) Conference
By Opeyemi Agbaje

AT last some sort of National Conference is on-going in Abuja! Actually the "conference" started since June 12, 1993. Since that unfortunate episode, issues like power rotation, zoning, devolution of powers, revenue allocation formula etc acquired fresh prominence in national discourse. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, the North has staked its claim to Sharia, the "South-South" talks about "resource control", the Afenifere and OPC seeks a revived Western Region, the Ijaws are actively creating their own "nationality" with a "Governor-General" and the Ohaneze and MASSOB frequently appear to reminisce about "Biafra". All in all, it appears more sensible to gather all these interests in one venue and stimulate a controlled ventilation of these agenda in the open, rather than each group trying to foist a fait accompli on Nigeria.

The National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) is of course not the ideal. Members were nominated largely by the president and the state governors most of whom are his colleagues (or rather subordinates) in the PDP. Others were nominated directly by civil society groups, political parties (again with the PDP providing the bulk), labour groups etc, yet in spite of these limitations, the outcome is rather gratifying. Quite frankly, no system of elections under our present environment could have produced the quality and substance of delegates now assembled in Abuja.

A conference at which Emeka Anyaoku, Arthur Nwankwo, Afe Babalola, Adamu Ciroma, Umaru Shinkafi, Adams Oshiomole, Fola Adeola, Kimse Okoko, Professors Sagay, Idachaba, Alkali, Musa Yakubu, Joe Irukwu and Auwalu Yadudu are delegates is not to be looked upon with contempt. A gathering where our Awujale, Oba Adetona and Oba Olagbegi are present along with Ebitu Ukiwe, Obi Achebe of Onitsha, Gen Jemibewon and Chief Akinjide is a worthy assembly. Clearly this is one instance in which the outcome is superior to the process adopted. Is the system finally trying to redeem itself? Or will the promise again be defeated?

Issues have been raised about the absence of legal backing for the NPRC ironically by the same persons who typically insist on a "Sovereign" National Conference (SNC). The irony lies in the fact that seeking a legal backing from the existing National Assembly and the President amounts to a concession that sovereignty lies in those institutions and therefore the SNC cannot really by definition be sovereign. Moreover any law to convene the NPRC as a quasi law-making (or constitution-enacting) body will easily be declared unconstitutional as been in conflict with the 1999 Constitution which clearly lays out the process of law-making.

Chief Anthony Enahoro, Prof Wole Soyinka and their allies in PRONACO have insisted on proceeding with a parallel "Peoples National Conference" (PNC), the result of which they propose by some mechanism to submit to a referendum of the Nigerian people. This requires them to in some way "overawe" the Government and secure national participation in a popular referendum. In other words, the only way in which you can have a truly sovereign conference is either if the existing legal order has broken down or by revolution. The presence of Chief Enahoro and our Nobel Laureate will add to the completeness of the NPRC and it appears to me that their minds are not yet set on not attending. Will some means be yet found to secure their attendance?
 

Apart from securing a very high quality of participation, the Government has also procured a strong leadership for the gathering in the persons of Justice Niki Tobi and Reverend Father Mathew Hassan Kukah. Justice Tobi's work as the architect of the 1999 Constitution and his experience as a Law Professor and Supreme Court Judge as well as Father Kukah's role in the Oputa panel will be excellent preparation for this assignment. A valid criticism of the Conference is the poor representation of women and youths reflecting the reality of the relative political marginalisation of these groups. This confirms also that power is never voluntarily transferred to a weaker group by the stronger. Women and youths have to create strong platforms for their own participation in political affairs and not seek tokens from the political class.

Some voices I would have liked to have at the conference are unfortunately missing. Col Abubakar Umar should have been at the conference along with Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu given their close interaction with military politics and their progressive participation in national affairs. Pat Utomi certainly should have been there. Ahmadu Abubakar, the Nasarawa lawyer who caused a stir at the Abacha conference should have been there. Joe Igbokwe should have been there. Lamido Sanusi will have been an articulate Fulani participant. Olisa Agbakoba should have been a part of the civil society delegation. Prof Jadesola Akande and Ayo Obe ought to have been there. Prof Bolaji Aluko would have been a worthy representative of the Diaspora. And I would have wished Hafsat Abiola was there!
 

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