Ohaneze Youth Wants CONFAB Report Subjected To Referendum

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, August 19th, 2014

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

The Youth wing of apex Igbo socio – cultural body, Ohanaeze Youth Congress (OYC), on has restated its position that the outcome of the just concluded ‘National Conference 2014’ be subjected to referendum.

The group insisted that this would make way for the proper implementation of the recommendations of the CONFAB.

National President of the organisation, Mazi Ikechukwu Isiguzoro, stated this in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, South Eastern Nigeria while speaking with reporters.

Isiguzoro, therefore warned President Goodluck Jonathan against sending the CONFAB’s report to the National Assembly.

He said, “such action would amount to suicide mission as most lawmakers were waiting to kill the report on arrival.”

“It is not a secret that the undemocratic elements in the National Assembly, who feel uncomfortable because of the new dawn about to be ushered in, have concluded plans to use their majority to kill the CONFAB’s report and Mr. President should not play into their hands,” OYC boss warned.

Rather, Isiguzoro, advised President Jonathan to either utilize his executive power to set up a Constituent Assembly, which according to him, would ratify the report of the conference or to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize a referendum on the recommendations.

The Igbo youths leader posited that the outcome of the National Conference was more important to Nigerians than the 2015 elections because “the recommendations, when implemented, would permanently plug most of the issues that frequently cause friction in our polity.”

He also urged Jonathan to complete the “epochal cycle he initiated as the midwife of a new Nigeria by ensuring that the outcome of the conference, unlike the previous ones, was not thrown into the cabbage can of history “.

“Even if the implementation of the CONFAB’s report costs Jonathan his second term bid, it is heroic because he will ever be remembered as the father of new Nigeria,” Isiguzoro added.

The OYC helmsman, also hailed South-East delegates to the conference for their unity in canvassing the interest of Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.