CONFAB: Crisis deepens as Kutigi, 50 wise men fail to meet
BY FIRSTCLASSNEWSLINE
THE crisis rocking the National Conference over derivation deepened
yesterday following the abortion of the meeting of the Chairman of the
Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi with the group of 50 wise men known as the Consensus Group, chairmen and deputies of the 20 standing committees.
Only 20 or about 22 per cent of the 90 delegates expected at the
meeting showed up, forcing the leadership to turn the gathering into an
informal one.
Chairman of National Conference, Hon. Justice Idris
Legbo Kutigi with his gavel at Conference on Monday i
Consequently, a stormy session is
expected on Monday when the plenary reconvenes, as southern delegates
insist on their opposition to proposed allocation of five percent of
federal revenue to rebuild insurgency-ravaged areas of the North because
the move would increase violence in the country.
Following the
deadlock and abrupt adjournment of the plenary last Thursday on account
of the failure to arrive at a compromise on revenue sharing, derivation
formula and insurgency fund, Kutigi had scheduled yesterday’s meeting
with the wise men for 11 am.
However, Saturday Vanguard
gathered that only 20 delegates turned up for the meeting. Apparently
not ready for the meeting and after some hours of waiting by the
delegates, Kutigi was said to have asked his deputy, Prof. Bolaji
Akinyemi to tell the delegates that the leadership was aware of their
presence but they should brainstorm and brief the leadership later.
The move, which turned the gathering into an informal one as opposed to
the expected serious meeting left the delegates confused because the
leadership of the Conference called for the meeting and not the
delegates.
Delegates who showed up included Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari, Umara Kumalia, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga, Fola
Adeola, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Ibrahim Ida,
Alhaji Tanko Yankassai; Senator Musa Adede, Evelyn Shekarau, Comrade
Issa Aremu, Mrs Bola Ogunrinade and Ledun Mitee.
Last Thursday,
delegates were divided along regional lines and failed to come to a
compromise on how revenue should be shared. The plenary session ended
abruptly without a final decision on critical issues of revenue sharing
formula from the Federation Account and derivation principle and they
could not conclude voting on recommendations of the Devolution of Power
Committee led by Obong Victor Attah and former Inspector- General of
Police, IGP Ibrahim Coomasie.
The Elders Committee through its
Spokesman and delegate on the platform of Elder Statesmen Category,
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari had on Wednesday presented the outcome of the
committee’s meeting which raised the derivation from 13 per cent to 18
per cent.
It also resolved that there shall be a National
Intervention Fund which shall be five per cent of the annual revenue
accruing to the account of the Federal Government for the stabilization,
rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and
insurgency, in the first instance in the North East of Nigeria, North
Central, North West and any other part of the country.
The five
per cent National Intervention Fund for areas affected by terrorism and
insurgency, in the first instance in the North East of Nigeria, North
Central, North West sparked off protests among delegates from the
South-South, South-West and South-East, who said it must not read the
north alone but any part of the country that may be affected by
terrorism and insurgency.
The position of the North on the five
per cent National Intervention Fund, it was gathered yesterday, is that
three per cent should go to North East because of the level of
destruction, while the North-Central and North-West should get one per
cent each.
However, strong indications emerged yesterday that
other geo- political zones of the country will on Monday kick against
the fund being for the north only. The argument is that the money will
still come from the South-South and the move was likened to increasing
derivation by five per cent and taking it away through another means.
The southern delegates noted that the North agreed to increase
derivation from 13 per cent to 18 per cent and was now trying to collect
the five per cent increment using the rehabilitation fund.
Besides, they argued that when the states in the north start enjoying
the fund, insurgency may be fuelled in other parts of the country or the
militants may as well go back to the creeks, adding that leaders may
even sponsor insurgency in other parts of the country to benefit from
the fund.
7/12/2014
CONFAB: Crisis deepens as Kutigi, 50 wise men fail to meet
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