AFENIFERE
RENEWAL GROUP (ARG),
PRO
NATIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISATION (PRONACO),
COALITION
OF O’ODUA SELF DETERMINATION GROUP (COSEG),
O’ODUA
NATIONALIST COALITION (ONAC),
EKO
FOUNDATION,
AND
ATAYESE
A MEMORANDUM
SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE
DATE:
31ST OCTOBER, 2013
PREAMBLE
Conscious
of her God-given identity as a distinct nationality within the country Nigeria,
and among the human race in general; in pursuit of her inalienable right to
self-determination in order to guarantee to her people the advantages of
autonomous development in accordance with her values and priorities; the YORUBA
NATION hereby submits the following as her response to the call for memorandum
by the Advisory Committee on National Conference:
-The
conference must be a conference of ethnic nationalities in the current Nigeria
State, and it must be a conference of ‘the people’ as sovereignty evolves only
from the people and resides ultimately in the people.
-The
conference must seek to restructure Nigeria in a way that grants Yoruba people,
and other ethnic nationalities seeking it, unfettered autonomy to develop its
region and its own space within the framework of Nigeria’s multiethnic
federation.
-For
the avoidance of doubt, we define Yoruba ethnic nationality as the indigenes of
the present Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Oyo States. We also affirm the
right of Yoruba people indigenous, and contiguous with Yoruba region, in the
present Delta, Kogi, Edo, and Kwara States, whose territories are contiguous
with the rest of Yorubaland to demand that they want to join the Yoruba ethnic
nation.
-The
conference must produce a brand new constitution for Nigeria as the legal
framework that will anchor the country on true federalist structure. There
should be no 'No Go area' in respect of issues slated for discussion at the
conference and in respect of agitation from any section of Nigeria, as this is
the best way to ensure generation of frank views that can lead to compromise
required in establishing a functional federal state.
-Failing
the above listed clauses, the Yoruba nation would reserve the right to exist as
an independent nation outside the current Nigeria structure
Below
are our positions on the committee's Terms of Reference
ToR 1: Consult expeditiously with all
relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the
proposed national dialogue/conference;
We
explore in our submission the issue of who constitute the stakeholders, but
irrespective of the interpretation, we want to advice the committee to note
that the Yoruba people comprise of one ethnic nation and in Nigeria’s political
lexicon, may constitute one region or one geo-political zone.
1.
We submit that the stakeholders in the conference must be the ethnic nations in
Nigeria. Each ethnic nation should be allowed to table before the conference
issues pertinent to their interests.
2.
It is important that ethnic nations be the major, and in fact, only stakeholder
in the conference in order not to deny anyone their fundamental rights of
identity and to also solve a major problem with the Nigerian state, which is
ethnic domination.
3.
Therefore, all ethnic nations shall be treated as equal.
4.
We know there are hundreds of distinct ethnic nations in Nigeria, but for
administrative purpose; it may not be possible for the conference to
accommodate them all.
5.
Therefore, we recommend that smaller ethnic nations with contiguous landscape
be advised to form a region.
6.
Based on the above, we recommend the following ethnic nations as the major
stakeholders at the conference:
a.
Edo Federating Region
b.
Fullah (otherwise known as ‘Fulani’) Federating Region
c.
Gbagyi (otherwise known as ‘Gwari’) Federating Region
d.
Hausa Federating Region
e.
Ibibio Federating Region
f.
Igbo Federating Region [including Delta Igbo-speaking ethnic Nationality as
well as those in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States]
g.
Ijaw Federating Region
h.
Kanuri Federating Region
i.
Nupe Federating Region
j.
Tiv Federating Region
k.
Urhobo Federating Region
l.
Yoruba Federating Region [comprising those in Delta (i.e. Itsekiri), (in Edo),
Ekiti, (in Kogi), (in Kwara), Lagos, (in Niger), Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo
States]
m.
Akwa Ibom and Cross River Federating Region [excluding Ibibio nationality but
comprising mainly the Minority Ethnic Nationalities in Cross River and Akwa
Ibom States, i.e. Annang, Bakwarta, Boki, Efik, Ejagbam, Eket, Ibeno, Korop,
Oron, Yakurr, Yala];
n.
Bayelsa and Rivers Federating Region (comprising the Minority Ethnic
Nationalities in Bayelsa and Rivers States, i.e. Andoni, Ekipeye, Eleme,
Engeni, Etchei, Ikwerre, Ogba, Ndoni, Ogoni);
o.
Central Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
Nationalities in Central Middle Belt], that is to say:-
i.
The Ebira Group, which includes Bassa-Nge, Ebira, Ebira-Mozun, Ebira- Panda,
Ebira-Ugu, Etuno-Igarra, Uku;
ii.
The Igala Group in Upper Benue which includes Alago, Arum, Bassa-Komu, Eggon,
Gwandara, Kakanda, Mada, Mighili, Ninzom, etc.; and
iii.
The Nok Group which includes Atyap, Bajju, Gwandara, Ham, Hori, Ikullu, Kahugu,
Kamanton, Kwasam, Ninkyop, Ninzam, Etc.;
p.
Delta Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic Nationalities in Delta,
i.e. Ika, Isoko, Ndokwa, Warri];
q.
East Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
Nationalities in East Middle Belt] that is to say: -
i.
The Plateau Group which includes Afezere, Amu, Ankwei, Berom, Geomai,
Mavo-Jukun, Ngas, Pem, Tarok, Yovin, etc.;
ii.
The Taraba Group which includes Abakwa, Chamba, Jukun, Kaanab, Kona, Kunni,
Kuteb, Mambila, Ndoro, Yububen, etc.; and
iii.
The Savanna Group which includes Bachama, Burra, Bwazza, Kilba, Mangbi, Mbula,
Mwanna, Tangale-Waja, Yungur, etc.;
r.
West Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
Nationalities in West Middle Belt], that is to say, Angamo, Bariba, Bola,
Bussa, Funne, Kambari, Karekare, Ngizim, Zuru, etc.
7.
Each of these eighteen (18) regions, which came about as a result of research
effort of eminent academicians, will become the federating units of Nigeria
State.
8.
While each region should be allowed to table before the conference issues that
are peculiar to their existence within Nigeria, we would like to propose the
following as agenda for the conference:
a.
Tiers of government
b.
Type of legislative structure, unicameral or bicameral
c.
Devolution of power – responsibilities of federal and regional governments
d.
Internal security – Police and tiers of policing
e.
Resource control
f.
Revenue allocation/fiscal federalism
g.
Management of federation account
h.
Structure of the Courts, including the need to create a Constitutional Court
i.
Status and Funding of the Federal Capital
j.
Immunity from prosecution for political office holders
k.
Pensions
l.
Federal Civil Service and Quota System/Federal Character
m.
The role of Traditional Rulers in governance
n.
Women and Youth representation in governance
o.
Census and Population
p.
Federal elections
ToR
2: Make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the
proposed national dialogue/conference;
We
recommend a two-tier structure for the proposed conference, and make suggestion
as to the number of delegates, whose nomination and emergence must be according
to methods evolved by the participating ethnic nationalities.
1.
We are recommending two levels of conferences.
2.
Conference Level I: The first one is at the regional level, where each
Federating Region will deliberate on pertinent issues relating to their
existence within Nigeria. We recommend a bottom-up approach where the
conference starts from the village level and proceed to the Town, State and
Region; with each Federating Region allowed to organise this conference as it
suits their existence and socio-cultural values, norms, tradition and
practices. At this level, each region will produce its own charter to be
debated and negotiated at the second conference.
3.
Conference Level II: The second conference will be the pan-Nigerian conference
of ethnic nationalities.
4.
We recommend that 30 delegates from each of the present six administrative
regions attend this conference to debate the charters from all Federating
Regions and agenda of the conference.
5.
In addition, each of the identified eighteen (18) Federating Regions should
nominate one delegate who will present its charter. This brings the total
number of delegates to 198.
6.
We propose that the federal government fund the conference and provide suitable
venue and adequate security.
ToR 3:Make recommendations to
government on how representation of various interest groups at the national
dialogue/conference will be determined;
1.
Our recommendation is that each administrative region should be allowed the
liberty to decide how it chooses the 30 delegates that will attend the
conference.
2.
However, for the purpose of legitimacy, we suggest that half of the delegates
should emerge through election, and the remaining half through methods evolved
by respective ethnic nationalities.
3.
The reason is that a major fault line for previous conferences had been that
delegates did not emerge from the ethnic nations and therefore could not
represent them as appropriate.
4.
We do not support that the federal government should nominate any delegate.
However, it may send observers and technical support staffwho must be persons
of acceptable repute and international standing.
5.
We do not also support that the National Assembly be represented as a
stakeholder/delegate at the conference. This is because the National Assembly
itself is a delegated authority from the people.
6.
We also do not support that Special Interest Groups like Labour, Nigerian Bar
Association, Women groups, political parties, Media, etc. be represented as a
stakeholder/delegate at the conference. The reason is that even these interest
groups are not immune to ethnic struggles within their representations. So,
every one, irrespective of organization, comes from an ethnic nation and should
be accommodated in their respective ethnic nationality nomination. However,
these Special Interest Groups desiring to do so may also send observers.
ToR 4: Advise on a time frame for the
national dialogue/conference;
1.
The conference should be completed within 9 months, inclusive of the two levels
of conferences, as explicated in ToR 2 above
2.
As there are misgivings on whether the conference could interfere with the 2015
General Elections, the conference should be enabled on or before March 1, 2014
to terminate by November 30, 2014.
ToR 5: advise government on a legal
framework for the national dialogue/conference;
1.
Implicit in the procedure for convening the National Conference is the need for
budgetary allowances to cover the cost of the conference, its convocation,
administration, and delegates’ expenses etc. Therefore, an urgent supplementary
budget provision should be considered for this purpose;
2.
More so, the Independent National Electoral Commission has a role to play in
conducting a referendum to authenticate the outcome of the conference.
3.
However, the conference delegates should write their own rules of proceedings
and would from the beginning empower its rules as statutory in nature.
4.
Decisions at the conference shall be by consensus and negotiation and not
through voting.
ToR 6: advise government on legal
procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national
dialogue/ conference into the constitution and laws of the nation;
We
are conscious of the enormous responsibilities borne by the delegates, and
therefore propose that the outcome of their deliberation, negotiations, and
agreements, after scaling referendum, should become the new Constitution and
Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The question of integration
presupposes reviewing an existing document, whereas, this effort is aimed at
writing a new Constitution.
1.
There should be a Referendum at Federating Regional level after and about the
decisions reached at the conference.
2.
The outcome of the referendum should translate to an automatic repeal of the
existing constitution, and the promulgation of the new Constitution.
3.
Any ethnic nation that does not agree to the conference’s outcome shall be free
to seek its own sovereignty. This follows the basic principle that sovereignty
resides with the people.
ToR 7: advise government on any other
matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national
dialogue/conference.
1.
There should be three Conference Conveners and each person nominated as a
Conference Convenor must be acceptable to the ethnic nationalities and must be
of good standing, with national and international reputation.
2.
There must be no 'no go area,' i.e. every issue about the Nigerian federation
is subject to discussion at the conference.
3.
Since the conference will produce a new constitution, we recommend that the
conference be completed before 2015 elections, with a new constitution to come
into force latest by January 2, 2015.
Signed
Afenifere
Renewal Group
PRONACO
Atayese
COSEG
ONAC
Eko
Foundation
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