CONFAB: Prof. Nwabueze Led Igbo Leaders Of Thought Faults FG’s Guidelines

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, January 31st, 2014

…Insist On Conference Of Ethnic Nationalities, New Constitution

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

The professor Ben Nwabueze led Igbo leaders of thought on Friday faulted the guidelines for the proposed national conference (CONFAB) as released by the federal government.

Prof. Ben Nwabueze

African Examiner reports that secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had on Wednesday announced modalities for the dialogue scheduled to begin from March in Abuja.

Reacting to the development on behalf of the group during its meeting in Enugu, secretary of the body, Professor Elochuwku Amucheazi, said the guideline as announced by president Goodluck Jonathan, led federal government was not in line with their position on the CONFAB.

Amucheazi insisted, “the modalities are not in line with the Igbo leaders of thought position” saying Jonathan should have allowed the ethnic nationalities proposal because of its wide acceptability.

According to him, “we are concerned about the renegotiation of the existence of Nigeria, adding that “there is no way the country can get it right without putting in place a brand new constitution that would be subjected to a referendum and not the National Assembly.

“Our proposal, and solution to the Nigerian problem is that the CONFAB produces a brand new constitution that would be people oriented and not reversing the 1999 constitution which is unpopular.” he said

The political scientist posited that it would have been wonderful if president Jonathan had adhered to the position of the Igbo leaders of thought by convening a conference of ethnic nationalities, rather than his proposed interest group arrangement.

He said though, the group has reservation on the CONFAB guidelines, it would still go ahead to prepare a template for Igbo delegates to the conference.

The Igbo leaders however, Maintained that a national conference in which the ethnic nationalities do not constitute the pivot or focal point will not be able to address effectively the litany of problems of Nigeria.

“A new people constitution is needed to replace the existing 1999 constitution, which is a constitution only in a loose sense, but not in the strict, generally accepted sense of an original act of the people.”

Present at the meeting were former central Bank of Nigeria CBN governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Professor Ben Nwabueze, President of Igbo Youth Movement, (IYM) Evangelist Eliot Uko, who is also the assistant secretary of the Igbo leaders of thought.

Others are, former military governor of Lagos state, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu, Senator Anyim Udeh from Ebonyi state, former Vice chancellor of university of Nigeria UNN, Professor Ginigeme Mbanefo, religious and traditional rulers from Igbo land, amongst others.