The Coalition of Northern Leaders has said the Presidency is using the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee on Constitution Review to pursue a tenure elongation agenda for President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group, in a communiqué after its meeting in Abuja, on Thursday, called for the immediate review of the current revenue allocation formula and the status of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the group, indigenes of oil-producing states have become victims because the revenue accruing to their states “is far beyond their executive capacity to manage.”
CNL, in the communiqué by its Convener, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, stated, “It has become clear that both the Villa and the Chairman are relentlessly pursuing a sinister third term agenda/renewed tenure elongation for the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”
The coalition said the main effort of the committee and the Presidency had been to create a so-called new constitution that would pave the way for Jonathan to contest the presidential election in 2015.
It stated that the committee would pave the way for a single term of seven years for the President in addition to his current four years.
The group vowed that the whole country “with the North as its head, will rise to oppose tenure elongation for the President.”
Explaining its stand on 13 per cent derivation CNL said it encouraged corruption and hyper-inflation in those states, their neighbours and the country at large.
The group stated, “The law as it exists is a violation of a subsisting judgment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a fact openly admitted to by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.”
It stated that the revenue allocation law violates the international law, particularly the International Law of Sea Convention.
It recommended the revocation of all those oil blocks and oil lifting contracts and urged that there should be a comprehensive review of all manner of refined products import contracts.
The group called for the arrest of all generals and dishonest businessmen, local chiefs and warlords involved in oil bunkering.
On the current status of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory, it noted that land belonging to communities had been taken away from them without compensation.
“The communities and peoples alienated from their lands are rendered internally displaced persons, but lacking all the rights and privileges accorded them by UN Conventions,” it said.
When contacted the Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, denied the allegation, saying it was mischievous. Abati said the committee had not submitted its report.
He said, “ It also appears strange to me that a group of people who would otherwise be described as distinguished Nigerians would claim that President is looking for a third term.
“Every intelligent man in this country knows that President Jonathan is in his first term in office, so how have they suddenly jumped from first term to third term. From the point of view of arithmetics, even their claim cannot stand, so that claim is weak, it is unacceptable.
“ If their concern is about the seven-year term, President Jonathan has made it clear that his proposal is out of patriotic concern about the amount of wastefulness, greed, tension, conflict that go into the obsession that go into the search for second term.
“It is borne out of patriotic concern that elected officials at all levels should dedicate themselves and concentrate their efforts during a specific period.”
The President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, who is a member of the Belgore committee, denied the allegation on the third term.
“There is nothing like that, where are they getting that from? Which one is third term agenda?” he said.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and President Goodluck Jonathan have agreed to suspend the amendment of the party’s constitution.This followed the strong objection raised by the governors elected on the platform of the party.
At the expanded National Caucus meeting of the party held at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday night, the governors insisted that the amendment must be stepped down.
In the alternative, the governors wanted the constitutional amendment taken to the party’s national convention on March 24. Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the President and the leadership of the party knew that the governors would sway the delegates against the party and therefore gave in.
Among those at the meeting were President Jonathan; former President and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; members of the National Working Committee of the party and six governors led by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
The Senate President, David Mark, led the delegation from the National Assembly to the meeting.
A source said, “The President and the leadership of the party knew that the governors would be the ones to bring the delegates to Eagle Square.
“The President, especially, knew that fighting them openly would not portray him in a good light and could boomerang.
The governors had, at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on February 29, 2012, threatened to leave the party if their views on the review of its constitution were not respected.
The governors were angered that the party’s Constitution Review Committee, led by its National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, recommended that membership of its NEC should be increased.
The Constitution Review Committee had recommended the inclusion of a senator and a member of the House of Representatives from each state of the federation and Abuja as members of NEC.
But the committee refused to include the governors as members of the party’s National Caucus, as demanded by them.
Article 12.67 of the party’s constitution stipulates those expected to attend National Caucus of the party. This list does not include governors elected on the platform of the party.
But during the lobby for the amendment of the constitution, the governors tried in vain to be made members of the National Caucus of the party.
The amended constitution of the party, which was distributed to the members of NEC at its last meeting, refused to allow the governors membership of National Caucus.
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