The Nigerian Bar Association on Wednesday declared its support for a national conference that its report would be validated by Nigerians through a referendum.
The NBA President, Okey Wali, made the declaration when he inaugurated the association’s committee on the national conference and constitutional review in Abuja.
Wali said the referendum, regardless of modalities for representation at the national conference, would give Nigerians of voting age the right to be part of the constitutional change.
He said the main issue was not about having a constitution, but whether or not the constitution represented the minds of the people.
“It is significant to note that after 100 years of existence, Nigeria does not have a home grown people’s constitution with a strong political structure,” he said.
Wali commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts to converge the national conference and urged him to commence the process of organising the conference in the first quarter of the year as promised.
He said: “Since the Presidential Advisory Committee has submitted its recommendations on how to go about the national conference, it is expected that President Goodluck Jonathan sets the ball rolling as soon as possible.
“The President had in fact while receiving the report of the committee stated that this will take off in the first quarter of 2014.”
Wali called on the members of the committee to consult with the Bar and come up with a position on issues affecting the setting up and working of the conference.
He further urged the committee to among other things consider issues of national importance such as mode of representation for the national dialogue.
He also tasked them to deliberate on the political structure that best suits the country, type of federalism to be operated in the country as well as the issue of social security.
The 15-man committee is headed by Awa Kalu (SAN) and has Titi Akinlanwo (SAN) as secretary.
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