STILL ON THE CONFAB

Before now i have always argued against the current National Confab or Conference being anchored by the President Jonathan administration.

Today a list of 492 delegates have been SELECTED by whatever criteria to decide the future of Nigerians (even when there is a Legislature i.e the National Assembly saddled with such mandate).

Perhaps i do not need to begin to x-ray the resume of most of these delegates...ex governors, senators and past leaders who one time or the other had the opportunity to err the positions they intend to present at the impending Conference. Of course we can take solace in the inclusion of pressure and interest groups but how far they are able to influence the outcome of the Conference remains for us all to see.

Some of the issues emanating from the selection of the delegates show clearly that the Nigerian people are not entirely represented in the imminent Confab... for instance the Itsekiri people are not happy they were not selected to form the delegation from Delta state; we also have the Igede and Etulo in Benue state who currently face the same situation; over 20 political parties or associations are also aggrieved they were not involved. Hence, how representative is this National Conference in proffering a collective and representative output to save our democracy and country. Of course, the Tiv man from Benue will hardly portray the position of the Etulo man just as the the Ijaw man who has been at logger heads with the Istekiri man ever present a fair scenario for both tribes in Delta state.

Apparently, the National Assembly, a clear cut legislative institution has been designed to represent a large population of the Nigerian society, but it was jettisoned and its powers usurped, perhaps in a bid to provide jobs to the teeming Nigerian population..old and young to reduce the unemployment rate.

That is one problem- of composition of delegates! the other lies with the legality of the outcome of the Conference. Rumors have it that the Conference shall be conducted akin to  legislative procedure, in my own opinion a MOCK LEGISLATURE where we have substantive National and State Assemblies!

Don't forget that N7bn has been earmarked for this purpose.... and i hear the delegates are being contemplated to be accommodated in a hotel in Abuja; some of who feel they should be paid the sum of N4m per month for accommodation since they do not want people to know where they will be residing for want of confidentiality! And i ask, if you were sent to represent a people in what is seen as the limelight for a future Nigeria, would you suddenly become invisible! God bless Nigerians; protect our youths and save our democracy!!!