"Conscious of her God-given identity" should not have been included.. Maybe it should also form part of the deliberation.s
God is part of the Nigerian Problem
Regards
Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth
On Sat, Nov 2, 2013 at 3:13 PM, <udoguei@appstate.edu> wrote:
OPINION
I read the memorandum put forward by this Pan-Yoruba group for the proposed
National Dialogue with great interest. May I suggest that if this is the route
the country wishes to take with respect to this important confab, a quick read of
the piece below, "The Allurement of Ethnonationalism in Nigerian Politics: The
Contemporary Debate," might be useful. It was written in 1994.
http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/f/Udogu_Ike_1994_The%20Allurement_Brill_okpdf.pdf
IKE UDOGU
To: USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>, NaijaPolitics
----- Original Message -----
From: Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com>
Date: Friday, November 1, 2013 4:52 pm
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - ARG, PRONACO, COSEG, Etc. MEMORANDUM
SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE
e-Group <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>, naijaintellects
<naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>, Yan Arewa <YanArewa@yahoogroups.com>,
"nigerianid@yahoogroups.com" <nigerianID@yahoogroups.com>, Ra'ayi
<Raayiriga@yahoogroups.com>, OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>, ekiti
ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>
> *
> *
> *AFENIFERE RENEWAL GROUP (ARG),*
> *PRO NATIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISATION (PRONACO),*
> *COALITION OF O'ODUA SELF DETERMINATION GROUP (COSEG),*
> *O'ODUA NATIONALIST COALITION (ONAC),*
> *EKO FOUNDATION,*
> *AND*
> *ATAYESE*
> *
> *
> *A **MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO THE*
> *PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE*
> *
> *
> *DATE: 31ST OCTOBER, 2013*
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *PREAMBLE*
>> herinalienable right to self-determination in order to guarantee to
> Conscious of her God-given identity as a distinct nationality
> within the
> country Nigeria, and among the human race in general; in pursuit of
> her people> responseto the call for memorandum by the Advisory Committee on
> the advantages of autonomous development in accordance with her
> values and
> priorities; the YORUBA NATION hereby submits the following as her
> National Conference:> currentNigeria State, and it must be a conference of 'the people'
>
> -The conference must be a conference of ethnic nationalities in the
> as sovereignty> theindigenes of the present Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Oyo
> evolves only from the people and resides ultimately in the people.
>
> -The conference must seek to restructure Nigeria in a way that grants
> Yoruba people, and other ethnic nationalities seeking it, unfettered
> autonomy to develop its region and its own space within the
> framework of
> Nigeria's multiethnic federation.
>
> -For the avoidance of doubt, we define Yoruba ethnic nationality as
> States. We> whoseterritories are contiguous with the rest of Yorubaland to
> also affirm the right of Yoruba people indigenous, and contiguous with
> Yoruba region, in the present Delta, Kogi, Edo, and Kwara States,
> demand that they> structure.There should be no 'No Go area' in respect of issues
> want to join the Yoruba ethnic nation.
>
> -The conference must produce a brand new constitution for Nigeria
> as the
> legal framework that will anchor the country on true federalist
> slated for discussion> Nigeria,as this is the best way to ensure generation of frank views
> at the conference and in respect of agitation from any section of
> that can lead> *ToR 1:Consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a
> to compromise required in establishing a functional federal state.
>
> -Failing the above listed clauses, the Yoruba nation would reserve the
> right to exist as an independent nation outside the current Nigeria
> structure
> Below are our positions on the committee's Terms of Reference
>
> view to> dialogue/conference;*
> drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national
> We explore in our submission the issue of who constitute the> stakeholders,but irrespective of the interpretation, we want to
> advice the committee to> Nigeria'spolitical lexicon, may constitute one region or one geo-
> note that the Yoruba people comprise of one ethnic nation and in
> political zone.> ethnicnations in Nigeria. Each ethnic nation should be allowed to
>
> 1. We submit that the stakeholders in the conference must be the
> table before> fundamentalrights of identity and to also solve a major problem
> the conference issues pertinent to their interests.
>
> 2. It is important that ethnic nations be the major, and in fact, only
> stakeholder in the conference in order not to deny anyone their
> with the Nigerian> themajor stakeholders at the conference:
> state, which is ethnic domination.
>
> 3. Therefore, all ethnic nations shall be treated as equal.
>
> 4. We know there are hundreds of distinct ethnic nations in
> Nigeria, but
> for administrative purpose; it may not be possible for the
> conference to
> accommodate them all.
>
> 5. Therefore, we recommend that smaller ethnic nations with contiguous
> landscape be advised to form a region.
>
> 6. Based on the above, we recommend the following ethnic nations as
>> Nationalityas well as those in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo
> a. Edo Federating Region
> b. Fullah (otherwise known as 'Fulani') Federating Region
> c. Gbagyi (otherwise known as 'Gwari') Federating Region
> d. Hausa Federating Region
> e. Ibibio Federating Region
> f. Igbo Federating Region [including Delta Igbo-speaking ethnic
> States]g. Ijaw Federating Region> EthnicNationalities in Bayelsa and Rivers States, i.e. Andoni,
> h. Kanuri Federating Region
> i. Nupe Federating Region
> j. Tiv Federating Region
> k. Urhobo Federating Region
> l. Yoruba Federating Region [comprising those in Delta (i.e.
> Itsekiri), (in
> Edo), Ekiti, (in
>
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> Kogi), (in Kwara), Lagos, (in Niger), Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States]
> m. Akwa Ibom and Cross River Federating Region [excluding Ibibio
> nationality but comprising mainly the Minority Ethnic Nationalities in
> Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, i.e. Annang, Bakwarta, Boki, Efik,
> Ejagbam, Eket, Ibeno, Korop, Oron, Yakurr, Yala];
> n. Bayelsa and Rivers Federating Region (comprising the Minority
> Ekipeye, Eleme,> EthnicNationalities in Central Middle Belt], that is to say:-
> Engeni, Etchei, Ikwerre, Ogba, Ndoni, Ogoni);
> o. Central Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority
>> Geomai,Mavo-Jukun, Ngas, Pem, Tarok, Yovin, etc.;
> i. The Ebira Group, which includes Bassa-Nge, Ebira, Ebira-Mozun,
> Ebira-
> Panda, Ebira-Ugu, Etuno-Igarra, Uku;
>
> ii. The Igala Group in Upper Benue which includes Alago, Arum,
> Bassa-Komu,
> Eggon, Gwandara, Kakanda, Mada, Mighili, Ninzom, etc.; and
>
> iii. The Nok Group which includes Atyap, Bajju, Gwandara, Ham, Hori,
> Ikullu, Kahugu, Kamanton, Kwasam, Ninkyop, Ninzam, Etc.;
>
> p. Delta Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
> Nationalities in
> Delta, i.e. Ika, Isoko, Ndokwa, Warri];
> q. East Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
> Nationalities in East Middle Belt] that is to say: -
>
> i. The Plateau Group which includes Afezere, Amu, Ankwei, Berom,
> ii. The Taraba Group which includes Abakwa, Chamba, Jukun, Kaanab,> Kona,Kunni, Kuteb, Mambila, Ndoro, Yububen, etc.; and
> iii. The Savanna Group which includes Bachama, Burra, Bwazza, Kilba,> Bola,Bussa, Funne, Kambari, Karekare, Ngizim, Zuru, etc.
> Mangbi, Mbula, Mwanna, Tangale-Waja, Yungur, etc.;
>
> r. West Middle Belt Federating Region [comprising the Minority Ethnic
> Nationalities in West Middle Belt], that is to say, Angamo, Bariba,
>> unitsof Nigeria State.
> 7. Each of these eighteen (18) regions, which came about as a
> result of
> research effort of eminent academicians, will become the federating
> makesuggestion as to the number of delegates, whose nomination and>
> 8. While each region should be allowed to table before the conference
> issues that are peculiar to their existence within Nigeria, we
> would like
> to propose the following as agenda for the conference:
>
> a. Tiers of government
> b. Type of legislative structure, unicameral or bicameral
> c. Devolution of power – responsibilities of federal and regional
> governments
> d. Internal security – Police and tiers of policing
> e. Resource control
> f. Revenue allocation/fiscal federalism
> g. Management of federation account
> h. Structure of the Courts, including the need to create a
> ConstitutionalCourt
> i. Status and Funding of the Federal Capital
> j. Immunity from prosecution for political office holders
> k. Pensions
> l. Federal Civil Service and Quota System/Federal Character
> m. The role of Traditional Rulers in governance
> n. Women and Youth representation in governance
> o. Census and Population
> p. Federal elections
>
> ToR 2:Make recommendations to government on structure and
> modalities for
> the proposed national dialogue/conference;
> We recommend a two-tier structure for the proposed conference, and
> emergencemust be according to methods evolved by the participating
> ethnicnationalities.> theirexistence within Nigeria. We recommend a bottom-up approach
> 1. We are recommending two levels of conferences.
> 2. Conference Level I: The first one is at the regional level,
> where each
> Federating Region will deliberate on pertinent issues relating to
> where the> Regionsshould nominate one delegate who will present its charter.
> conference starts from the village level and proceed to the Town,
> State and
> Region; with each Federating Region allowed to organise this
> conference as
> it suits their existence and socio-cultural values, norms,
> tradition and
> practices. At this level, each region will produce its own charter
> to be
> debated and negotiated at the second conference.
> 3. Conference Level II: The second conference will be the pan-Nigerian
> conference of ethnic nationalities.
> 4. We recommend that 30 delegates from each of the present six
> administrative regions attend this conference to debate the
> charters from
> all Federating Regions and agenda of the conference.
> 5. In addition, each of the identified eighteen (18) Federating
> This brings the> *ToR 3:Make recommendations to government on how representation of
> total number of delegates to 198.
> 6. We propose that the federal government fund the conference and
> providesuitable venue and adequate security.
>
>
> variousinterest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be
> determined;*
> 1. Our recommendation is that each administrative region should be> allowedthe liberty to decide how it chooses the 30 delegates that
> will attend the> throughmethods evolved by respective ethnic nationalities.
> conference.
>
> 2. However, for the purpose of legitimacy, we suggest that half of the
> delegates should emerge through election, and the remaining half
>> couldnot represent them as appropriate.
> 3. The reason is that a major fault line for previous conferences
> had been
> that delegates did not emerge from the ethnic nations and therefore
>> staffwhomust be persons of acceptable repute and international
> 4. We do not support that the federal government should nominate any
> delegate. However, it may send observers and technical support
> standing.> *ToR 4:Advise on a time frame for the national dialogue/conference;*
> 5. We do not also support that the National Assembly be represented
> as a
> stakeholder/delegate at the conference. This is because the National
> Assembly itself is a delegated authority from the people.
>
> 6. We also do not support that Special Interest Groups like Labour,
> Nigerian Bar Association, Women groups, political parties, Media,
> etc. be
> represented as a stakeholder/delegate at the conference. The reason
> is that
> even these interest groups are not immune to ethnic struggles
> within their
> representations. So, every one, irrespective of organization, comes
> from an
> ethnic nation and should be accommodated in their respective ethnic
> nationality nomination. However, these Special Interest Groups
> desiring to
> do so may also send observers.
>
>> beforeMarch 1, 2014 to terminate by November 30, 2014.
> 1. The conference should be completed within 9 months, inclusive of
> the two
> levels of conferences, as explicated in ToR 2 above
>
> 2. As there are misgivings on whether the conference could
> interfere with
> the 2015 General Elections, the conference should be enabled on or
>
> *ToR 5:advise government on a legal framework for the national
> dialogue/conference;*
>> *ToR 6:advise government on legal procedures and options for
> 1. Implicit in the procedure for convening the National Conference
> is the
> need for budgetary allowances to cover the cost of the conference, its
> convocation, administration, and delegates' expenses etc.
> Therefore, an
> urgent supplementary budget provision should be considered for this
> purpose;
> 2. More so, the Independent National Electoral Commission has a
> role to
> play in conducting a referendum to authenticate the outcome of the
> conference.
>
> 3. However, the conference delegates should write their own rules of
> proceedings and would from the beginning empower its rules as
> statutory in
> nature.
>
> 4. Decisions at the conference shall be by consensus and
> negotiation and
> not through voting.
>
> integratingdecisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/
> conference into the
> constitution and laws of the nation;*
>> delegates,and therefore propose that the outcome of their
> We are conscious of the enormous responsibilities borne by the
> deliberation, negotiations,> *
> and agreements, after scaling referendum, should become the new
> Constitution and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The
> question of
> integration presupposes reviewing an existing document, whereas, this
> effort is aimed at writing a new Constitution.
>
> 1. There should be a Referendum at Federating Regional level after and
> about the decisions reached at the conference.
>
> 2. The outcome of the referendum should translate to an automatic
> repeal of
> the existing constitution, and the promulgation of the new
> Constitution.
> 3. Any ethnic nation that does not agree to the conference's
> outcome shall
> be free to seek its own sovereignty. This follows the basic
> principle that
> sovereignty resides with the people.
>
> *
> *ToR 7:advise government on any other matters that may be related or
> incidental to the proposed national dialogue/conference.*
>> constitutionto come into force latest by January 2, 2015.
> 1. There should be three Conference Conveners and each person
> nominated as
> a Conference Convenor must be acceptable to the ethnic
> nationalities and
> must be of good standing, with national and international reputation.
>
> 2. There must be no 'no go area,' i.e. every issue about the Nigerian
> federation is subject to discussion at the conference.
>
> 3. Since the conference will produce a new constitution, we
> recommend that
> the conference be completed before 2015 elections, with a new
>
> Signed
> Afenifere Renewal Group
> PRONACO
> Atayese
> COSEG
> ONAC
> Eko Foundation
>
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