The
SOUTH-SOUTH CAUCUS of the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY met in Asaba, Delta State,
on 12thMay 2013, to review the State of the Nation and the topical issues
confronting our maturing democracy and resolved as follows:
1. Caucus commends His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his focused leadership and bold,
result-yielding Transformation Agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of
all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the
Administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilizing the polity, growing
the economy and improving the quality of life of all Citizens continue to
unfold.
2. Caucus commends the initiative, industry and
commitment of the Administration to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and urges
the National Assembly (NASS) and all stakeholders to support the Bill, which
when passed into Law, is certain to launch Nigeria into the next level of
sustainable development of our hydrocarbon resources, in a manner that takes
into account the needs of the present generation of Nigerians without
mortgaging the future.
3. In acknowledgement of, and response to the
deafening calls by different segments of the country for review of Nigeria’s
over 20-year old Revenue Allocation Formula, Caucus is of the considered view
that the present Formula has long ceased to reflect the changing realities and,
therefore, calls for its urgent, reasonable and pragmatic review to achieve
vertical and horizontal equity amongst the tiers of Government and better
enable the Federating Units to drive development across the country as was the
case up to the 1963 Republican Constitution.
4. On disproportionate assignment of constitutional
responsibilities and fiscal powers, Caucus calls for drastic and further
devolution of functions and fiscal powers from the Centre to the Federating
Units, towards the direction of the 1963 Republican Constitution, to make
States the effective engines of growth and development, and decentralize,
localize and ease governance across the country, without undermining the power
of Federal Government to maintain our uncompromising unity, provide a conducive
environment nationwide for development and manage external affairs.
5. Concerned about the poor state of development at
the grassroots all over the country and desirous of more effectively reaching
our rural populace and communities with tangible democracy dividends as well as
better integrating them into the new prosperous Nation of our collective dream,
Caucus calls on the Executive at Federal and State levels to work with both the
National and State Assemblies to strengthen the System of Local Government
prescribed in the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), but without comprising the
proper placement of Local Government Councils in a Federation, as essentially
being matters for the Federating Units (States) to handle, including their
boundaries, numbers, funding, etc.
6. Since Nigeria’s Federal Constitution provides a
solid framework for the sustenance of unity and diversity in an ethnically and
religiously plural society, Caucus holds the view that whilst observable lapses
in the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) need to be addressed, Constitutional
Amendment should not become so routine an exercise as to impair the stability
required for our political and socio-economic development.
7. Viewing the internal wrangling within the PDP
family as an inevitable consequence of democracy at play in our large, ever
growing, truly democratic Party, Caucus, however, urges the leadership of the
Party at all levels to rally round Mr President, as National Leader of the PDP,
and work assiduously to put our house in order because, as the ruling Party
since the sustainable restoration of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s stability,
progress and development depend largely on the continuing stability, cohesion
and unity of the PDP which must continue to provide good leadership to Nigeria
and afford an increasingly greater majority of our citizens that veritable
platform for the expression and realization of their social, political and
economic aspirations to build a strong, prosperous and caring Nation for all.
8. While noting that occasional rifts between the
Executive and Legislature at the Federal level and in many States of the
Federation are other understandable occurrences in the practice of constitutional
democracy, particularly the Presidential System that provides for checks and
balances through ‘Separation of Powers’ between the three arms of Government
(Executive, Legislature and Judiciary), Caucus is concerned that the legitimate
exercise of ‘Separation of Powers’ must not become tantamount to, or
metamorphose into, ‘Separation of Interests’ with the attendant negative
repercussions.
9. Caucus notes the anxious calls in some quarters
for a constitutional amendment for the Offices of the President and State
Governors to have a tenure of one single term of 6 (six) years as a means of
lessening the tension often generated by second-term bids, but finds nothing
wrong with the current tenure of a maximum of two terms of 4 (four) years each,
subject to performance and the will of the electorate. Until we fully imbibe
the virtues of continuity in initiatives, it will be necessary to allow elected
public office holders in the Executive to seek the mandate of the electorate
for the constitutionally allowable second term, to advance with and/or complete
their policies and programmes.
10. Concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics
of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective
psyche of the Nation, by waging various acts of terrorism, Caucus not only
commiserates with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the
victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians, but salutes the
resolute stance of Mr President to confront terror wherever and whenever it
occurs in the Nigeria, while appealing to all law-biding citizens to sincerely
join hands with Governments to stamp out these and other evils from our
society.
11. Caucus further salutes the President’s sagacity
in initiating and pursuing the policy of amnesty as an option for dealing with
the menace of Boko Haram, in demonstration of the Administration’s untiring
efforts and listening ears. We trust that the fundamental views and interests
of the victims will necessarily be taken into account and that the Rule of Law
must prevail and violence in any part of the country whatsoever not allowed to
become an instrument to blackmail, coerce or otherwise dictate for political
and/or other ends.
12. Caucus sincerely thanks all Nigerians and friends
of Nigeria for their resolute support for the President Goodluck Jonathan
Administration, the first headed by a Nigerian from our geo-political zone –
despite being the mainstay of the country from our resources – which
Administration is still in its first term, and urges Mr President not to be
detracted by the antics of a few, but forge ahead with the task of transforming
Nigeria and providing good governance, growth and development to all and
sundry, knowing that Nigerians who gave him an overwhelming mandate are solidly
supporting him and his programmes under our great Party.
Asaba, 12th May, 2013
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