The president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during his independence broadcast marking the 53rd year of Nigeria independence announced the plan leading to a national conference.
This announcement had generated a lot of debate for and against. The leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), and former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Almed Bola Tinubu, had termed the plan “diversionary and deceptive”. He made this comment on his return from 3 months knee cap Surgary. The umbrella body of the Yoruba’s, Afanifere, had described him as playing dangerous politics.
Be as it May, the purse so far shows that Nigerians are ready to discuss Nigeria and move it out of what many had called marriage of unsuitable partners, in the Nigeria system. Different groups and ethnic nationalities in Nigeria had already made their intention to be part of the National discurse.
In the main time, while group like Afanifere wants true federation, as stated by the national publicity secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the Arewa Consultative forum, is demanding that whatever conference that will hold, it should not undermine the country’s democracy.
The question that comes to mind is that where do will stand as members of the Nigeria project. What is the fate of the Ndokwa nation on this? Are we going to sit back and allow the rights and future of our people to be determined by other ethnic groups in Nigeria?
There are many more questions that will need to ask ourselves, knowing the strategic place the Ndokwa nation is in Delta State and Nigeria .it is recorded that the Ndokwa land produces 71.6% of all the oil production from the marginal fields Nigeria. It is on report that the land is topping the largest grown place in West Africa. It is on record, that during the hey days of militancy in the Niger delta, the youth of Ndokwa land and elders held the peace not to join. But they where not recognized when amnesty issues and benefits came up.
Because of this numerous unanswered questions and facts, Ndokwa REPORTERS decided to seek the voice of opinion leaders in Ndokwa nation to know if we are to go and if we should be represented, how are we going about it.
We will be there – Pham. Enebeli, NNU president.
The president of the Ndokwa National Union (NNU), Pham Paul Enebeli, said this is not the time to sit on the fence. The socio-cultural leader of Ndokwa Nation, said there will be convocation of all citizens soon to discuss and prepare the view point of the Ndokwa People
He said that when this is done youths, market women groups, professionals from Ndokwa land, all concerned will be informed. He stressed the need for all that will be invited to attend as the opportunity to discuss the future of the people in the committee of the Nigeria Nation is now open, baring in mind the amount of resources the area is contributing to the National purse.
The NNU president, arguing that we cannot go to such place without real fact, he therefore called on the sons and daughters that are privy to information that will help the course of the Ndokwa Nation to come forward with such data. He bemoan the manner the area had so far being neglected for a very longtime, despite the huge sacrifice she had made in the crude oil supply from the area into the national treasury. He therefore asked everyone to be ready.
Before we go lets cleanse our self-first – Hon. Chukutem Nwogor.
Speaking on the same issue, Hon Chukwutem Nwogor, a politician and a former counselor in Ukwuani LGA, spoke briefly on the greedy nature of the representative of the Ndokwa politicians. According to him before we think of the National Conference we should first have a Conference within the Ndokwa Nation where, we need to address the internal injustices being melted out to the people by those voted in to represent the area.
Hon Nwogor quarried our moral attitude towards the immediate communities. He asked the question on issue of marginalization from the nation but, answered that we had marginalize ourselves first. He said among those representing Ndokwa Nation in the state house of Assembly was the collective effort and general struggle of the people, and today they had refused to assist the growth of the youths who helped them to get there.
Again, he quarried which people are going to represent the land; he accused the NNU of not properly representing Ndokwa land on the issue of amnesty, saying that during the period the Ndokwa youths remained calm. There was peace, but the government, when it came to the amnesty they forgot to remember the youths of the area. Hon Nwagor said that if not our representatives were silent; the Ndokwa youth was supposed to benefit. And when it finally came, it was hijacked. We will go to this National Conference, but we need to have internal Conference first, he concluded
A welcome idea – Jerry Ogwu
Mr. Jerry Ogwu on a telephone conversation from Port Harcourt, termed the idea of a National Conference a welcomed opportunity said the only regret is that it is not sovereign one, where everyone will determine how this nationality called Nigeria will live among themselves. But be as it may the idea of all the nationalities in Nigeria coming together to discuss their future is a welcomed one.
Speaking further, Mr. Ogwu advised that pre conference meeting of the Ndokwa people be converted to articulate the parts of the Ndokwa nation, so that a common front will be conveyed. And he advised that such pre- conference meeting should be done, latest first week of November, 2013 since the federal government committee was given a limited time.
When asked what will be the possible position of the Ndokwa people in such a conference, he said everything. Everything that involves development. Because according to him, Federal presence, good leadership, educational facility and most of all, for proper development, the effect of external factors in the leadership selection and structure in Ndokwa land, is to be stopped.
This is overdue-Chief B.A Alonu (JP) former PDP Chairman in Ukwuani LGA-
Chief Enahoro had talked on this for long. After many years, the President had given his consent. Nigerians need to go there with open mind. And for Ndokwa, they must sit down. The Ndokwa people must sit and select those that will represent the people. They must go there and speak the mind of the Ndokwa people.
Continuing, Chief Alonu, took to memory lane, and concluded that the Ndokwa people had being marginalized for such a longtime. He said that the establishment of the polytechnic in Aboh is cosmetic as they only did it to calm the nerve of the Ndokwa people, and still the polytechnic is yet to take off. To the Chief, who is the spokesman of the Amai people, said the main issue of the Ndokwa people is lack of development. There is marginalization of the people of Ndokwa land.
All invited Ndokwa sons and daughters invited to the pre- conference meeting should attend- D.N Ochonogor.
A retired permanent secretary from the state civil service, Mr. D.N Ochonogor called the idea a welcomed one, and pleaded that the people of Ndokwa should see this as an opportunity, and therefore should come together when the time comes.
Mr. Ochonogor reiterated the need for us to always remember our root, and it is only when this is done, that the area will develop.
National Confab Committee Members
Senator Femi Okunrounmu- Chairman
Senator Femi Okunrounmu was a former Commissioner in the Ministry of Works in Ogun State
before he was elected Senator to represent Ogun Central on the ticket of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and served from 29 May, 1999 to 29, May 2003. Okunrounmu was later appointed Secretary General of the Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere in January 2005, a pedestal from which he regularly ventilated the group’s support for a sovereign national conference. He was very active during the failed amendment of the Nigerian constitution to pave way for the third term bid of former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, during which he presented the position paper of the Afenifere faction led by Rueben Fasoranti, stating that Nigeria should maintain two terms of four years. He dissociated the Yoruba from Obasanjo’s third term agenda, saying it was the work of the President and the PDP. He is one of the prominent politicians who have condemned the zoning arrangement in the PDP by which presidents alternate between South and North every two terms, noting that the arrangement was ridiculous. He was however critical of the president on what he termed the marginalization of the southwest in federal appointments.
Dr Akilu Indabawa
Dr Akilu Indabawa is a politician and former Special Assistant to President Jonathan, first as vice president and up till 2011, when the president won election as substantive president. He was a political adviser to the president and was considered a close confidante.
Prof. Ben Nwabueze
Prof. Ben Nwabueze is renowned as Nigeria’s leading constitutional lawyer. Born in December, 22, 1932, he attended CMS Central Schoul Atani, from 1938 – 1945 and C.M.S Central School, Onitsha formerly, African College from 1947—1950. He was also at the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London from 1956—1961 before moving to School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London between 1961 and 1962. He became a law teacher and is reputed as the first academic lawyer to become Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the basis of published works. He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments in Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University and Jos between 1978 and 1979
Prof. George Obiozor
Professor George Obiozor is a professor of international relations, former ambassador to the United States. Prior to his posting to the United States, he was Nigeria’s ambassador to the State of Israel, and High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus from 1999 to 2003. Between 1964 and 2003, Professor Obiozor held many important positions in the Nigerian government and academia including Senior Research Fellow at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (1991-1999). A writer and author of so many books, his profound knowledge in diplomacy has become a great asset in rebuilding Nigeria’s image.
Sen. Khairat AbdulrazaqGwadabe
Sen. Khairat Gwadabe is the chairman, Senators Forum. Gwadabe occupied the Senate chambers from 1999 to 2003, representing the Federal Capital Territory. She was elected to the seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She served in several committees in the Senate: Environment, Health, Federal Character, Tourism & Culture and Federal Capital Territory, from where he rose to become Chairman Committee on Women Affairs. She was also a member of the panel on Review of Nigeria Customs and Excise. She lost her bid to return to the Senate in 2003.
Tony Uranta
Tony Uranta will tread a familiar path in the committee having served for several years as Executive Secretary Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG). He is a also a member of the Federal Government Technical Committee on the Niger Delta. Tony I Uranta holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan. He is a member of the Independent Civic and Social Organisation Professional. “I am merely a steward of the common good of Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta, Nigeria and all stakeholders in the respect of humanity worldwide, for we are all intricately interlinked with all other members of the human race! I wish to remind all that I need as much support as possible to serve creditably, and help manifest a National Conference worthy of the vision of Aka-Basorun, Gani Fawehinmi, Anthony Enahoro, Edwin Clark, Arthur Nwankwo, Tanko Yakasai, Balarabe Musa, Ewa Henshaw, Loretta Aniagolu, Emem Okon, et al have longed striven to manifest, “ Urarita said of his nomination.
CoL Anthony Nylam (retd)
Col. Anthony Nyiam is one of the surviving senior officers that took part in the April 22, 1990 coup that attempted to topple the government of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. A very brilliant officer, Col. Nyiam has authored two relevant books on current subjects that agitate the Nigerian polity: ‘Nigerian National Question and Answer and Inter-Religious Understanding As the Meaningful Basis for Religious Tolerance. Speaking at the public presentation of the book, the Late Biafra warlord, Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised that the way forward in Nigeria was a national conference where all the ethnic nationalities would discuss the future. Nyiam served in the Engineering division of the Nigerian Army, directing staff at the Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Dr. Abubakar Sadiq
Dr. Abubakar Sadiq has in the past served Nigeria as Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in 2010. He was appointed to that position when President Good- luck Jonathan was serving the nation in the capacity of Acting President. He worked as lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Yola from 1986 to 1996 before moving to the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna, where he served from 2002 to 2008. He later worked as Chief of Staff to then Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bayero Nafada in 2008.
Sen. Timothy Adudu
Sen. Adudu occupied the Senate chambers from 2003 to 2007. He was voted on the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and represented Plateau North Senatorial District before he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was however deregistered by the state chapter of PDP alongside former Governor Fidelis Tapgun and Alhaji Ado Datti at the eve of the recent PDP special convention over alleged non-participation in party activities.
Malam Buhari Bello
Mallam Buhari Bello is a lecturer in the department of political science, University ofAbuja.
Other members of the committee are Prof. Funke Adebayo and Dr. (Mrs.) Mairo Abmed Amshi.
