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National Conference delegates rise against Jonathan, insist on rule change

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But Ozekhome reasoned that achieving three quarters would be problematic. He noted that controversial, emotive and sensitive issues were bound to come up.

In such a situation, he noted, it would be difficult to get 75 per cent or three quarters to support an issue. The lawyer suggested that the conference should go for simple majority or two-third, insisting that three quarters was likely to produce a tyrannical minority.

The tyrannical minority, he said, might shoot down a popular issue because the conference was unable to get three quarters vote.

He prayed that the section should be reviewed to avoid a situation where the delegates would find it difficult to take decision on issues.

Ozekhome said: “369 is 3/4 of this conference, a number that is obviously humongous, elephantine and behemoth. As we go into the serious issues after adopting this rule, a lot of highly emotive, controversial issues and some demanding primordial sentiments would prop up.

“As a Federal Government delegate, I will discuss from the perspective of a nationalist, but there are many delegates here who are from various strata of our society who have their own issues, such as state police, which I vehemently believe in, regionalism or the form of government we are going to take. When such emotive and controversial issues prop up, how do we get 75 per cent or three quarters because it is going to be very difficult if there is no consensus.

“In other words, such issues are dead on arrival if we have to go by this rule.

“If we also have to go by this 75 per cent rule, it means we are going to have a tyrannical minority; if 74 per cent of the delegates vote on an issue and 26 per cent voted against but can’t carry through because we have not the 75 percent mark.

“The result is that the 26 per cent that voted against has actually won. So, my suggestion is that we should tow the line of parliamentary standard across the world by adopting 2/3 majority.”

Perhaps the stage of discord was set when Justice Kutigi told the delegates that the conference was not competent to change three quarters vote to decide an issue.

He said that the letter that appointed them stipulated that determination of an issue where consensus failed shall be three quarters of the delegates.

He said that the letter foreclosed discussion on three quarters vote to decide an issue.

Most delegates shouted that the section should be revisited.

Chief Adeniyi Akintola (Oyo State) wondered why President Jonathan should make up his mind on the issue.

He said: “If Mr. President has made up his mind on voting, why did he bring us here?”

Prof. Awwulu Yadudu reminded the delegates that there were some no-go areas as stated by President Jonathan.

Yadudu noted that Jonathan asked delegates not to discuss any issue that has to do with the continued existence of Nigeria as an entity.

He added that it was his wish that issues would be decided by consensus but where consensus failed three quarters should be adopted.

But Chief Ahmadu Ali said that decisions should be arrived at by two-third because three quarters will be difficult to achieve.

The ding dong went on unresolved.

Attempts by the chairman to shelve debate on the contentious issue were met by a resounding “no!”.

The delegates went on break.

On resumption from break, the Chairman said: “Let us go to page 12”. But the delegates would have none of it as they shouted: “No, were are still on page 11!” that deals with voting.

The chairman noted that some delegates said that the conference should work with consensus.

“We shall come back to it later after we’ve taken more arguments,” he said.

The issue did not come up again for discussion until Justice Kutigi adjourned the session.

Senator Ken Nnamani said there were inconsistencies in the draft rule.

He noted that in some place three quarters was mentioned while in other places “two-third” was used.

He noted even the Constitution allows for two-thirds to decide issues.

The former Senate President wondered why Justice Kutigi did not allow delegates to conclude the matter.

On appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees,

some delegates were of the opinion that the chairman of the conference and his deputy should not appoint chairmen and deputies of committees, as well as constituting members.

Such appointments, they said, should be subjected to democratic norms whereby members of committees should pick their own presiding officers.

Chief Olu Falae, among others, supported the idea of members choosing their chairman and vice chairman.

The chairman put the question and those against the draft carried the day.

Not convinced, the chairman put the question the second time. Those against the draft rule, which vested the power of appointing chairmen of committees on the conference chairman, outnumbered those in support.

Justice Kutigi ruled and banged the gavel.

Removal of chairman and deputy of committees after review of their performance by the conference chairman was also rejected by the delegates.

On quorum, the delegates decided that 1/3 delegate membership should form quorum for deliberation.

On replacement of conference official, some delegates wanted a time frame of 48 hours to be given to Mr. President to replace any conference official who resigned or became indisposed.

But, others said that Mr. President should not be compelled to announce the replacement of an official.

Chief Segun Osoba suggested that the conference should sit between 10am to 5pm. The break period should be reduced to one hour instead of two hours.

Osoba proposed an amendment to the provision of the rules of proceedings, saying that the conference should not be rigid about it.

The current rule being debated stipulates that plenary begins at 10 am and lasts till 2 pm to give way for a lunch break that lasts till 4 pm when plenary resumes to close at 6 pm.

Some of the delegates canvassed for the plenary to hold between 9 am and 4 pm without break. Others suggested the reduction of the break time to one hour, to enable them to close at 5 pm.

However, the chairman ruled for the retention of the current provision.

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