Press Release
When the National Conference was convoked
in March 2014, some of us that chose to participate in the process did so with
the conviction that a Nigeria that we can be proud citizens of is possible.
We saw the National Conference as a space
for positive contestations and negotiations on what should be the necessary
policy, legislative and constitutional directions that would curtail wastages,
eliminate corruption and unjust distributive politics that our nation has come
to be known for.
We were very clear the conference was not
a gift from a generous ruler, but a concession wrested from the jaws of a
ruling elite undergoing a crisis that was almost consuming it.
Civil society groups involved in the
process did their utmost to mirror and push the desires of Nigerians for an
arrangement that promotes full fiscal federalism and where justice and fairness
are enthroned. We pushed for the justiciability of human, socio-economic and
other rights of citizens and even went as far as pushing for the recognition of
the rights of nature to regenerate itself.
At the conclusion of the National
Conference, except for a lack of unanimity on aspects of the devolution of
power, there were signs that if what were agreed on were implemented the nation
would be much better off than current arrangements allow.
Even before the National Conference was
set in motion some Nigerians raised doubts about the true intent of the
exercise. They argued that what was needed was a Sovereign National Conference
whose output would be implemented without being subjected to political
manipulation.
Some went as far as to say that the timing of the Conference and
the selection of delegates were choreographed for political ends, namely to
scuttle the 2015 elections.
The President assured all that the true
intent was for Nigerians to sit together, discourse the affairs of the nation
and chart a way forward for the nation. We note that at the end of the day,
apart from some hiccups and heated contestations, the Conference ended with an
output that has generally been accepted as a good platform for progress for
Nigeria.
We are however surprised that with less
than two weeks to the 14 February 2015 date of the Presidential elections, some
Nigerians that were delegates to the National Conference held a symposium in
Abuja under the banner of the National Conference demanding that the election
should be postponed.
We, the undersigned, wish to state
unequivocally that:
1. We are
not in support of any move to postpone, shift or abandon the election.
2.
We believe that four years are long enough to prepare for and conduct an
election.
3.
We also believe that it will severely insult the sensibility of citizens
and also the candidates who have invested so much energy campaigning and
preparing for the elections.
4.
No one can call for the postponement of the election in our name without
our consent.
5.
We insist that as things stand now, with the state of preparedness of
all stakeholders that the February 2015 general elections can, and must go on
according to the already announced schedule.
6.
We are convinced that any call or action taken now to the end of postponing,
shifting or abandoning the scheduled elections for any form of transitional or
interim arrangement will only serve to further inflame the current situation
and precipitate a crisis that will almost certainly lead to the termination of
the current democratic experience in particular, and the democratisation
process in general.
We call on Federal and States Executives
to implement the policy recommendations detailed in the National Conference
reports without further delay. We also call on the National Assembly to take on
board the constitutional amendments agreed to at the Conference.
We are convinced that our nation is at a
critical historical junction, and that having a critical role to play in the unfolding
events and processes, it is our historical duty to make this stand and to
denounce the position of those who have chosen to play games with the fate of
our country, and who have chosen to so do in our name without consulting us.
To this end we believe we are speaking on
behalf of the Joint Labour-Civil Society Delegation to the 2014 National
Conference.
The future of Nigeria and Nigerians must
not be toyed with.
God bless Nigeria.
Signed
Femi Falana
Nnimmo Bassey
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
Jaye Gaskia
Ezenwa Nwagwu
Kyauta Giwa
Abiola Akiode-Afolabi
Steve Aluko Daniel
Titus Mann
Y. Z Yau
No comments:
Post a Comment