Governor Elechi Makes U-Turn on Confab, Says “It’ll Achieve Nothing.”

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines, News Friday, December 27th, 2013

Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state Friday made a surprising u-turn on the proposed national conference (CONFAB) of President Goodluck Jonathan describing the exercise as a big joke and waste of government funds and time.

Ebonyi state governor, Chief Martin Elechi

“The National conference to me is a big joke, waste of time and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m skeptical about it. It will not achieve anything.” The governor argued.

Governor Elechi, a loyalist of President Jonathan stated this in his country home in Ikwo, when founding fathers of the state paid him Christmas homage.

The founding fathers had wanted to know the modalities of selecting delegates from the state and issues that should form their collective stand.

But to their greatest surprise, the governor stressed that he would not participate in the exercise.

African Examiner recalled that Elechi had earlier lauded the initiative and enjoined Nigerians to embrace the opportunity of contributing meaning fully on the conference so that any grievances would be addressed.

But in a dramatic change of mind, he said that he was skeptical about the conference, as it would not achieve anything since the constitution has empowered the National Assembly NASS, with the power to make laws for the nation.

Elechi, also noted that the referendum cannot supersede the deliberations of the National Assembly but urged supporters of the conference to revisit the colloquium by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, as it had the participations of all segments of human life.

He also noted that in the colloquium, far-reaching decisions were reached but National Assembly over turned it because of the third term ambition of Obasanjo.

Though, Elechi said he would consult his constituents to deliberate on whether or not to participate in the conference, he noted that if they eventually choose to participate, he would distance himself.

His words: “The constitution gives the National Assembly the power to makes laws and the referendum can not over ride the deliberations of the National Assembly”.

“The best was the colloquium by former President Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national life talked and reached far-reaching decisions.

“I will still consult my people but if at the end they decided to participate, I will not stop anybody but I will distance myself and be an on-looker.”