SAN FRANCISCO, October 20, (THEWILL) – The proposed National Conference as being planned by President Goodluck Jonathan has received the support of the Borno State Government, which has also expressed willingness to make representation when the conference is convened.
The Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, who disclosed this at the weekend, said the conference would avail the state the opportunity to sort out the germaine issues of revenue allocation and true federalism which had been raised in previous reports of the National Reform Conference (PRC) of 2005 and in 1988; but were not implemented by the Federal Government.
“To me, as the secretary to Borno State Government, and a former member of PRC; and 1988 Constitution Assembly, there is no reason for Borno State and its citizens not to participate at the forthcoming National Conference.
“Definitely, we are going to participate. Anybody, who has any issue, should fully participate without any fear or doubts. And there should be no no-go areas,” he said.
Jidda maintained that this will make Nigerians have a sense of belonging knowing that for once, ”we have sat and have discussed and agreed on the topical and burning issues facing the nation and its citizens. ”
The secretary, who said he hoped that the outcome of conference would not be jettisoned as usual, said “ What makes me unhappy is to make knowledgeable people come together, discuss, submit a report and you ignore it, and not fully implement it as demanded by the people.”
Jidda, who is a former Nigerian ambassador to Burkina Faso, said: “We made very good reports on the previous National Conferences. The only thing we did not accept at the PRC was the third term mooted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.”
He however urged the people of Borno State to listen and rely on the recommendations of the National Conference, saying “Even though I do not know the intention of the National Conference, the chairman of the conference committee and a dozen other members; are credible people that will not fail the people of this nation.”
According to Jidda, : “In a democracy, we need to sit down at a round table conference together; and support it, as long as it is not a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). If you say, SNC, there will be issues of legality, because we have a National Assembly in place at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
“So, if it is just a national conference, so be it. There are issues that need to be discussed at that national conference, slated to hold in each of the six geopolitical zones.
“If the issues are to be transformed into law for instance, or constitutional amendment, you now forward it to the National Assembly for ratification or subject it to a referendum of the people.”
