Igbo Leaders Disagree On Confab

WHAT looks like a disagreement over the modalities for the proposed national conference released by the federal government, may have erupted among leaders of the Southeast geo-political zone. 

  While the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, praised the modalities, saying it is partly in line with their submissions to the Senator Femi Okunrounmi Committee, the Concerned Igbo Leaders of Thought, led by Constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze, rejected the modalities as not being in tandem with the nature of conference proposed by Nigerians. 

 

  The concerned Igbo leaders, who met in Enugu Friday to review government’s position, insisted on an enabling law for the President to convoke an ethnic nationalities conference, whose outcome would  be subjected to referendum for a new constitution for the country. 

   At the meeting, chaired by Nwabueze, were Admiral Ndubisi Kanu (rtd), Dr. Chu S. P Okongwu, Prof Ginigeme Mbanefo, Prof Charles Soludo, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, Mrs. Maria Okwor, Prof Onyema Ochioha, Prof Vin Chukwuemeka Ike, Senator Anyim Ude, Lolo Kate Ezeofor, Prof Uzodinma Nwala and Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), among others. 

  Amucheazi, who is Secretary of the committee, told journalists, however, at the end of the meeting that though the recommendations fell short of the position held by the group, they would go ahead to chart an agenda for Ndigbo for the proposed conference. 

  He said: “We met today (yesterday) and we were told about the decision (white paper) of the federal government regarding the conference and we realized that it is not in line with our request. 

  “Our request tallied with the request of many other ethnic groups at many other fora. We wanted a conference of ethnic nationalities; we wanted an enabling law, referendum and the outcome of the conference to be a new constitution for Nigeria. 

  “But what they have said is completely at variance with what we have said, but there is nothing we can do. 

  “We have decided to produce our position and distribute it, so that whoever is going there for Ndigbo, it will help them defend Igbo interests.”  

  Asked whether members of the committee would shun the conference, he said they would not be attending as a unit, but are only concerned about Igbo interests. 

  “We are not one of those who want to use this kind of thing for political purposes; we wanted to produce something that will help our people and if anyone is nominated and he wants to go, he is free to go,” he added. 

  On the notion that the committee would decide whether the outcome of the conference could be subjected to referendum, Amucheazi said it makes no difference, as the committee must obtain the President’s endorsement to do so. 

  “I see a bit of problem, contradictions and so on. If it is a referendum, it is a new constitution, but they are talking about amendment. The two cannot go together,” he explained. 

  Regarding fears that the conference may not address the real issues plaguing the country, Amucheazi said that it was not unlikely, going by the issues that have been presented. 

  He said that within the next two weeks, the leaders would produce the Igbo position for the conference, with the aim of ensuring that people use it to guide those attending the conference. 

  On his part, however, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igariwey, applauded the federal government for the modalities, saying it was partly in line with their submissions to the Okunroumu committee.  

  “In the document we submitted, we talked about equal representation of the zones, and that is what the modalities said. 

  “Also, we recommended that it should be concluded early enough, so that it doesn’t conflict with the next election. 

  “In fact, we commend the template they have released. We also hope that later on, the outcome of the conference will be subjected to a referendum for it to be incorporated into the constitution,” he said.  

  On who has the right to send nominees to the conference from the zone in view of the leadership crisis and battle of legitimacy facing the organisation, Igariwey emphasised that the body remained the only recognised apex Igbo socio-cultural group and as such, there it is not in competition as to the nomination of the Igbo to the conference.  

  He said he would soon convene a meeting of all Igbo organisations with a view to harmonising their views preparatory for the conference.