Welcome to the second plenary of the ongoing National Conference. PREMIUM TIMES reporters are at the conference and will bring you live updates as they unfold.
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17:20
There is a sort of logjam as delegates seem to have voted down every motion on the selection of the Chairmen of Committees.
A decision finally taken on how the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen will be appointed. The Vice Chairman tried to explain that Kutigi has agreed to the position of the delegates but the delegates insisted that the Conference Chairman should confirm that personally. Kutigi did and hit the gavel to adopt the Conference.
Anietie Okon said when issues have been discussed on the floor; it should be exhausted so as to reflect in the records. He referred to the vote in which the Conference decided to select the Chairmen and Deputies for the Standing Committees.
A representative of the NCWS appealed to the leadership to allow women to serve as Deputy Chairmen where men are appointed Chairmen of Committees.
16:45
Ibrahim Idah: Asks the Chairman to disallow people from clapping after submissions because it makes the conference “like any other gathering which is not”. He also said people should refrain from booing other speakers.
16:40
Women delegates are insisting that gender must be reflected in the leadership of committees. If a man is chairman of a committee, a woman must be the deputy and vice versa.
16:30
His assertions were followed by shouts of “No, no, no” from the gallery by delegates who still insisted that the Conference should select Chairmen of Committees.
16:27
16:22
16:20
The Chairman, Kutigi put the question and the Conference rejected the provision in the Rules that empowered the leadership to appoint Chairmen of the Committees. He put the question the second time and the “Nays” still carried the day.
16:19
Bolaji Akinyemi, Conference Vice Chairman explained that the issue at stake was the appointment of Committee Chairmen and not about the nomination of members to Committees.
16:18
This was again opposed by a representative of retired military officers, who insisted that in Vision 2020 Committee, it was the members of the various sub-committees that were set up.
16:17
16:15
A delegate who was also a member of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Political Reform Conference said the leadership of the Conference should select the Committee Chairmen.
16:13
16:11
16:10
The Chairman has just called the Conference to session and sought to move to Order 7 but delegates shouted that two-third majority should be adopted.
16:06
Welcome to the afternoon session of the plenary.
Delegates are gradually returning to the hall after observing two hours lunch break. Some delegates complained that the food didn’t go round while other said it was not appetizing. A lot of them sent their drivers out to get them food and water, while hanging outside with other colleagues.
Majority of the delegates are already seated but it is difficult to determine whether the number meets the required quorum as adopted.
The leadership has just taken seats and the Conference is about to resume plenary.
14:25
Ayo Adebanjo argued and pointed out to the Chairman and said when a judge doesn’t want to grant bail to a suspect, he gives him an impossible condition. He argued that it would be difficult to get 75%. He asked the Chairman to tell him anywhere in the world where 75% was used as a benchmark for taking decisions. We should move with the world. Why are we always using the Nigerian factor? Don’t let us fail by giving us condition that is unattainable in any part of the world. We should use two-third majority to take decisions here, my Lord.There is a sort of logjam as delegates seem to have voted down every motion on the selection of the Chairmen of Committees.
A decision finally taken on how the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen will be appointed. The Vice Chairman tried to explain that Kutigi has agreed to the position of the delegates but the delegates insisted that the Conference Chairman should confirm that personally. Kutigi did and hit the gavel to adopt the Conference.
Anietie Okon said when issues have been discussed on the floor; it should be exhausted so as to reflect in the records. He referred to the vote in which the Conference decided to select the Chairmen and Deputies for the Standing Committees.
A representative of the NCWS appealed to the leadership to allow women to serve as Deputy Chairmen where men are appointed Chairmen of Committees.
16:45
Ibrahim Idah: Asks the Chairman to disallow people from clapping after submissions because it makes the conference “like any other gathering which is not”. He also said people should refrain from booing other speakers.
16:40
Women delegates are insisting that gender must be reflected in the leadership of committees. If a man is chairman of a committee, a woman must be the deputy and vice versa.
16:30
As it stands, members of each committee will select the leadership of each committee. A former chairman of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, Ahmadu Ali, said that decision is taking a risk arguing that the leadership of Committees may be skewed to favour certain parts of the country if the responsibility for the selection is taken away from the Conference leadership.
16:27
The plenary moves on to deals with appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees.
Delegates are expected to indicate the committees they want to serve. But the contentious issue is how leadership of committees are chosen or appointed.
The proposal for Principal officers of the conference to appoint committee leaders was voted down twice. The plenary will consider other options.
16:22
Ahmadu Ali said that democracy was the most difficult form of government. He said that the leadership of Committees may be skewed to favour certain parts of the country if the responsibility for the selection is taken away from the Conference leadership.
This was followed by shouts of “No, no, no” from the gallery by delegates who still insisted that the Conference should select Chairmen of Committees.
16:20
The Chairman, Kutigi put the question and the Conference rejected the provision in the Rules that empowered the leadership to appoint Chairmen of the Committees. He put the question the second time and the “Nays” still carried the day.
16:19
Bolaji Akinyemi, Conference Vice Chairman explained that the issue at stake was the appointment of Committee Chairmen and not about the nomination of members to Committees.
16:18
This was again opposed by a representative of retired military officers, who insisted that in Vision 2020 Committee, it was the members of the various sub-committees that were set up.
16:17
Albert Horsfal said also supported the idea that the Conference leadership should select the leadership of the Committees.
Florence Ita-Giwa supported the motion that the leadership should select the leadership of Committees.
A motion was formally moved to allow the Secretariat select the Chairmen for the 20 Committees to be constituted by the Conference.
16:15
A delegate who was also a member of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Political Reform Conference said the leadership of the Conference should select the Committee Chairmen.
16:13
A delegate suggested that two representatives from each geo-political zone should join the leadership to serve as members of the Selection Committee for the appointment of Chairmen of Committees.
A female delegate said she supports the motion that two delegates from the geo-political zones but added that a woman should be involved.
16:11
There is a mild row as the Chairman insists that the issue of consensus will be revisited.
Debate has, however, moved to page 12 of the Rules book.
16:10
The Chairman has just called the Conference to session and sought to move to Order 7 but delegates shouted that two-third majority should be adopted.
16:06
Welcome to the afternoon session of the plenary.
Delegates are gradually returning to the hall after observing two hours lunch break. Some delegates complained that the food didn’t go round while other said it was not appetizing. A lot of them sent their drivers out to get them food and water, while hanging outside with other colleagues.
Majority of the delegates are already seated but it is difficult to determine whether the number meets the required quorum as adopted.
The leadership has just taken seats and the Conference is about to resume plenary.
14:25
14:17
Hassan Adamu thanked the Chairman for his patience and leadership. He said if a consensus can’t be reached, the closest is two-third majority is used. There is no need to raise tempers on this issue. Mr. President had said when we are here, we will be discussing like Nigerians. We are going to make concessions. The way forward is to make consensus and the consensus is 75 percent.
14:14
Tension is building up inside as the Chairman consistently recognizes delegates to the left of the gallery.
14:15
Gani Adams said the Conference is very important, having waited for it for over 20 years. Mr. Chairman we are here to make history. I will suggest that we support two-third majority.
Gambo Jimetta warned the delegates that in view of the anomalies which necessitated past Constitutional Amendments. He said the Conference was borne out of the various misconceptions among the peoples of the country. He said with what is going on, the Conference would rather cause more problems. A simple thing like getting 75% would be difficult to get with the present mindset of the delegates. We should be very careful so that we don’t come here to destroy what we were come to build. We will resist attempts by any group to constitute themselves to block the Conference from taking its decisions. That will not work. That will not work.”
13:53
Adolphus Wabara cautioned against intimidating the Conference leadership and advised the leadership not intimidate the delegates. Mr. Wabara supported Ayu’s argument and asked that the
Conference time be left as it were. “We should demarcate between principal officers and the presiding officers,” he said. “We are responsible people. I have seen people close to 90 years here and who are not complaining. That is how it should be.”
The Chairman put a question and delegates vote in favour of retaining the provision of Rule 5(7).
Mike Ozokhome referred to Order 6 (4) said it would be difficult to discuss it without recourse to Order 11 (1&2) which has to do with voting procedure.
He said ¾ means 75, meaning 369, saying it is bogus, elephantide” said a lot of issues will draw so much emotions and primordial sentiments. When issues like state police, regionalism, will come up, it will be difficult to get 75 percent to agree. Second problem is that there will be a tyrannical minority, meaning that a minority could defeat a major decision and moved that a two third majority used in global legislative practice be adopted.
“You have no power to veto anything here. You cannot veto on anything here,” a member is screaming on top of his voice as it seems the Chairman has vetoed Order 6.
On the membership of committees, Kutigi said each delegate will decide which committees they wish to belong. He, however, refused to recognized those, who are shouting that he has no powers to veto any part of the Conference Rules.
10:36
The traffic again is very crazy as one approaches the Conference venue. Security operatives who keep the gates and control traffic are causing confusion in their bid to check persons going into the NJI premises.
Those going towards the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from Utako should use alternative routes and avoid the Life Camp/Utako Road that passes through the Conference venue to avoid being held up in the traffic.
Today’s plenary promises to be very interesting. Seats have been carefully marked; with names of delegates tagged accordingly.
The National Anthem was played at exactly 10.02 am to signal the beginning of the Conference. The National Prayer which is the Second Stanza of the National Anthem was recited while delegates stood to their feet.
The Vice Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi called for the adoption of the Proceedings of the previous session. Delegates are currently making observations and corrections on the document.
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