SAN FRANCISCO, August 14, (THEWILL) – Proceedings at the National Conference came to an end on Thursday with delegates unanimously adopting the final reports of the conference amidst handshakes, smiles, singing of solidarity and unity songs reaffirming the unity of the nation despite the earlier disagreements and tension between delegates from the north and southern Nigeria.
The meeting between the leadership of the Conference led by Chairman, retired for Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi and leaders of the various zones and interests at the conference on Wednesday night over some contentious recommendations in the proposed draft constitution was resolved amicably.
Thursday’s session which had Justice Kutigi, Conference Deputy Chairman and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Conference Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Valerie-Jenette Azinge and other members of the secretariat opened with the adoption of votes and proceedings from Wednesday’s brief session.
Conference then proceeded to deliberate on two separate motions seeking to approve amendments to the draft report for the very last time before a vote is taken.
One motion was sponsored by two southern delegates, High Chief Jerry Okwuonu and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, while the other which proposed an amendment to Odili and Okwuonu’s motion, as well as to amend the title of Volume III of the final draft report to read “Draft Proposals to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999”, was sponsored by Adamu Maina Waziri, a delegate from the North.
The text of the motion by Okwuonu and Odili reads: “Whereas the secretariat has done a very marvelous job of compiling the report of the Conference and presenting same to us in easily readable and cross-checkable format; and
“Whereas delegates have perused all the reports and submitted in writing all items of omission or incorrect addition to the final report; and
“Bearing in mind the dual necessity of bringing the conference to a close for purposes of not unduly over-reaching the logistics provision of the conference and not unnecessarily prolonging the continued conglomeration of people in contradiction to the prescription of Health Authorities especially as the country tackles the Ebola crisis.
“It is hereby moved that the secretariat be mandated to vet all the written submission by delegates and make necessary correction thereby providing the final draft of the Conference reports.”
The motion by Adamu Waziri reads: “To cultivate a conducive environment for delegates to validate and adopt the final report of the Conference, we the undersigned delegates, hereby offer and endorse the following observations and recommendation that seek to facilitate the process and lead to amicable ending of the Conference proceedings.
“We note that the Secretariat of the Conference on August 11, 2014 tabled before delegates a draft report contained in three volumes that are broken down in seven chapters
“In particular, we observed that volume III titled Draft Constitution, conveys an attempt to insert various resolutions and recommendations of a constitutional nature that were adopted by the Conference as proposed amendments to the appropriate sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
“We recall and welcome the clarification and confirmation offered by Conference Chairman at plenary on August 13, 2014 that indeed Volume III contains proposals for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
“We urged the leadership of the Conference, in collating the final report, to more appropriately designate Volume 111 as: Draft Proposals to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
“Furthermore, we note and welcome the amenability of the Conference Secretariat to entertain suggestions from the delegates that point out any specific error to misrepresentation of decisions taken or resolutions adopted by the Conference and/or any inadvertent failure to incorporate same in the draft report.
“We are aware that delegates have responded to this call and submitted to the Secretariat their various observations and suggested amendments to the draft.
“In preparing the final report, we urged the Conference Secretariat to keep faith with and reflect fully and accurately all resolutions and recommendations accepted by the Conference and as contained in votes and preceding that were formally adopted.
“Subject to the acceptance of the foregoing understanding, assurances and conditions and in accordance with the Procedure Rules, 2014 of the Conference, we move for the validation and adoption of the draft reports contained in volume 1,2 and 3 without further debate.
“In the spirit of the consensus building cultivated by members and to maintain the bridges built during the currency of the Conference, we urge all delegates to subscribe to this plea.”
The two motions were subsequently put to voice votes separately by Justice Kutigi and both were overwhelmingly approved by delegates to the conference who all chorused Nigeria’s old anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee”.
With that done, Justice Kutigi then asked a delegate from the South, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Nigeria, Chief Richard Akinjide to formally move a motion for the adoption of the final Conference Report. The motion was seconded by the youngest delegate at the Conference, Miss Yadoma Bukar Mandara, 24.
The motion was adopted by delegates who took turns to salute the leadership of the Conference for the successes achieved at the conference.
Thereafter, Josephine Anenih moved the motion for the adoption of votes and proceedings for the day. The motion was seconded by Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, a former Chairman of the ruling PDP and former Defence Minister.
Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha moved the motion for the closure of the Conference at the prompting of Justice Kutigi, with Chief Mike Ahamba seconding.
The Conference was inaugurated on March 17, 2014, by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan amid doubts from various interests that it would succeed.
