In addition, it was jubilation galore for Southern delegates at the Conference when the Conference overwhelmingly voted for creation of an additional state for the South East “in the spirit of reconciliation, equity and justice”
Browsing: National Conference
The decision was taken while the conference was reviewing the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government in Abuja
Not a few Nigerians insinuated before the commencement of the National Conference that one of the major reasons it was set up was to facilitate the approval of the six-year single tenure for the president and governors, which will then entitle the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to extend his four-year mandate by another two years without standing for election
Henceforth, the Conference said states creation should be on the basis of parity among the geopolitical zones to ensure equality of zones
Trouble started when Agbonwanegbe was contributing to the report of the Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government
Both Mike Ozekhome and the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom, Chief Charles Edosomwan, made the proposal known while speaking separately on the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, which recommended that states, rather than geopolitical zones, should serve as federating units
These decisions were based on the recommendations of the Conference Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters headed by the duo of Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Senator Ken Nnamani, both former Presidents of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Kutigi was reacting to newspaper publications, which stated that the leadership of the Conference had set up technical committee to draft new constitution
Kutigi had informed delegates that the sitting time needed to be reduced by 30 minutes
Oloyede made the remark at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja during a debate on a motion of national importance moved by Bishop Joseph Bagobiri and Seinde Arogbofa
It could be recalled that a national newspaper alleged that Akinyemi lobbied some Northern delegates to adopt the proposal to write a new constitution
However, decision on establishment of structure, composition, finance and functions of local government councils were put on hold pending discussions on the Report of the Committee on Political Restructuring
The Conference adopted the recommendation that any state that requires it shall establish a police force to be operated and run by the state
The first session, which started at about 9.30am, was meant to consider the Report of the Conference Committee on National Security headed by a former Inspector General of Police, Muhammmed Gambo Jimeta, and former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Chief Albert Horsfall
Immediately Kutigi gave the order, the security operatives started harassing journalists and sending them out of the gallery while all the cameras were disabled
This followed an observation raised by a delegate representing the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sani Zoro, on the blast
During the committee’s meeting, it was informed that, “millions of Nigeria living in the diaspora currently are unable to vote in the various election taking place in their home country
The delegates made the call while proposing amendments to a report of the conference Committee on Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reforms during a plenary in Abuja
In addition, the Conference accepted the proposal to separate the office of the Attorney General from that of the Minister of Justice
Such an appointment would be by the President and confirmed by the Senate in the case of the Attorney General of the Federation, while the state governor would make the appointment subject to confirmation by the state House of Assembly in the case of states