Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has
described the proposed national conference as a
big joke and a waste of time.
Elechi, who is one of the President Goodluck
Jonathan’s allies, stated this on Friday in Ikwo
when founding fathers of the state paid him
Christmas homage.
He described the conference as a distraction to
Jonathan as the general elections approached.
The founding fathers had told the Governor that
they 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.
Elechi had earlier lauded the initiative and urged
Nigerians to avail themselves the opportunity of
contributing meaningfully on the conference so that
any grievances would be addressed.
But in a u-turn, he said that he was sceptical about
the conference as it would not achieve anything
since the constitution had empowered the National
Assembly to make laws for the country.
The governor noted that
the referendum cannot
superseed the
deliberations of the
National Assembly but
referred its advocators to
revisit the colloquim by
Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo in
2005, as it had the
participations of all
segements of human life.
He also noted that in the
colloquim, far reaching
decisions were reached
but National Assembly
thrashed them because
of the third term ambition
of Obasanjo.
Though, Elechi said he
would consult his
consitutuents to
deliberate on whether or
not to participate in the
conference, he noted that
if they eventually chose
to participate, he would
distance himself and be
an on-looker.
He said “The National
conference to me is a big
joke, waste of time and a
distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m sceptical
about it. It will not achieve anything.
“The constitution gives the National Assembly the
power to makes laws and the referedum cannot
over ride the deliberations of the National Assembly.
“The best was the colloquim by former President
Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national
life talked and reached far-reaching decisions. I wil
still consult my people but if at the end they decided
to participate, i will not stop anybody but i will
distance myself and an on-looker”.
“The National Assembly over ruled it due to the third
term ambitions of Obasanjo. We should revisit that
colloquim and the recommendations reached”, he
stated.
described the proposed national conference as a
big joke and a waste of time.
Elechi, who is one of the President Goodluck
Jonathan’s allies, stated this on Friday in Ikwo
when founding fathers of the state paid him
Christmas homage.
He described the conference as a distraction to
Jonathan as the general elections approached.
The founding fathers had told the Governor that
they 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.
Elechi had earlier lauded the initiative and urged
Nigerians to avail themselves the opportunity of
contributing meaningfully on the conference so that
any grievances would be addressed.
But in a u-turn, he said that he was sceptical about
the conference as it would not achieve anything
since the constitution had empowered the National
Assembly to make laws for the country.
The governor noted that
the referendum cannot
superseed the
deliberations of the
National Assembly but
referred its advocators to
revisit the colloquim by
Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo in
2005, as it had the
participations of all
segements of human life.
He also noted that in the
colloquim, far reaching
decisions were reached
but National Assembly
thrashed them because
of the third term ambition
of Obasanjo.
Though, Elechi said he
would consult his
consitutuents to
deliberate on whether or
not to participate in the
conference, he noted that
if they eventually chose
to participate, he would
distance himself and be
an on-looker.
He said “The National
conference to me is a big
joke, waste of time and a
distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m sceptical
about it. It will not achieve anything.
“The constitution gives the National Assembly the
power to makes laws and the referedum cannot
over ride the deliberations of the National Assembly.
“The best was the colloquim by former President
Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national
life talked and reached far-reaching decisions. I wil
still consult my people but if at the end they decided
to participate, i will not stop anybody but i will
distance myself and an on-looker”.
“The National Assembly over ruled it due to the third
term ambitions of Obasanjo. We should revisit that
colloquim and the recommendations reached”, he
stated.
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