AYODELE ADEGBUYI writes on the challenges likely to be faced by the proposed national conference, giving the lack of legal instrumentality as observed by the Lower House
The Sovereign National Conference (SNC) became popular after the death of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election. After the annulment of that election, a group under the aegis of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) started agitation for SNC to address some perceived structural imbalance in the country. Much as they tried, they did not succeed.
When President Olusegun Obasanjo came on a board upon becoming the nation’s return to democracy in 1999, he yielded a little to the agitation by conveying what he called National Political Reform Conference (NPRC). What happened to the far-reaching decisions of the conference is now history. This has prompted another question of whether another national conference is really desirable. To many Nigerians, the answer will be in the affirmative, but this is not the case in the National Assembly, especially in the House of Representatives.
To them, spending a whooping N7 billion on an exercise which has no legal basis and as such a white elephant project. For instance, during the debate on the 2014 budget, the lawmakers took turn to examine the desirability of spending such huge expenditure in the face of other compelling needs. In their view, spending huge sums on a mere advisory body not known to any law is a mere waste, a position solidly canvassed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa. In his own submission, another lawmaker, Yakubu Dogara also said the conference is not known to any law, saying “the conference is like a vote of no confidence on the National Assembly”.
But to get its report on the Constitution amendment through, the House quickly told Nigerians on what was delaying the completion of the assignment. And just last week, the Deputy Speaker, and Chairman of the House Ad-hoc committee on review of the constitution, Chief Emeka Ihedioha said what was remaining of the amendment exercise was for the House and the Senate to harmonise their reports. He said: “The purpose of this press briefing is to present to the Nigerian Public the score card and the work done so far by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review of the House of Representatives.
“It is a well known fact that the process adopted by the House to alter the Constitution, has been very painstaking and methodical. It has been done in a most transparent and professional manner. It is perhaps the most inclusive and consultative process ever undertaken by the House of Representatives.”
“The highlight of the process was the highly acclaimed Peoples Public Sessions held all over the country on November 10, 2012. This was a landmark achievement as Nigerians in their various constituencies had an opportunity to express their views on how they should be governed.
“The results of the Peoples Public Sessions were openly collated with all the major stakeholders participating actively. These Results were published in the media and on the website of the Committee and to date, no person has disputed the authenticity of the will of the people expressed during those hearings.
“We therefore take them as the authentic view of the people on the subjects voted on. On 24th July, 2013, the House of Representatives kept faith with the decisions and wishes of the Nigerian people as expressed during the Peoples Public Sessions, in a historic voting on the various sections proposed for amendments. The House lived up to its billing as the House of the Nigerian people by voting overwhelmingly along the line of the outcome of the Peoples Public Sessions in their Federal Constituencies. On Thursday January 30, 2014, the House also voted to alter more Sections,” the deputy speaker added.
The rendition of this report by Ihedioha might not be unconnected with the need to put things in place before the take-off of the confab any moment from now. What then becomes of the report of the conference? This question becomes pertinent since the conference is not sovereign. Yes, its reports could be subjected to a referendum but there is no enabling legislation in the 1999 constitution or the current amendment to take care of that. It is almost certain that the National Assembly may not use it just like several others.
However, of the 72 clauses amended in the constitution by the House, which one is far reaching? To many, restructuring of the polity is very fundamental. The restructuring of the Police is also desirable. Appropriate system of government is very important among others. But the lawmakers could not plunge into these areas because as politicians, they can never reach a political consensus on those issues.
On the contrary, the conference, if held in atmosphere devoid of partisanship, could arrive at far-reaching decisions. But going by past experiences, the outcome and recommendations of the conference could be consigned, like those before it, to the dustbin of history.
With this fear expressed by the lawmakers, what then becomes of the outcome of the gathering? Certainly, Nigeria is passing though a very challenging moment.
