By Emeka Ibemere
Following the plan by the present government for the
convocation of National Sovereign Conference, to discuss the way forward for
the country, a Non Governmental Organization that seeks for the interest of
rural women in the country has commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s
democratic initiative in answering the clarion call to convocate National
Conference.
All State
Woman Association of Nigeria in their last Independence general conference in
Lagos State, while reviewing the President’s Independence speech praised
Jonathan for his able leadership in trying to bring the country together,
despite all the provocations from those who want power by all means.
Barrister Temple Nnedum, President General of the
organization stated that the president’s move should be applauded by well
meaning Nigerians. According to Nnedum, this has been the desires of many
Nigerians in order to fix Nigeria in the right direction and that now that the
President has yearned to the call, which everything possible should be done in
order not to truncate it adding that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.
“This has
been the desire of Nigerian people but something kept on deterring it. We thank
God that he has finally intervened on Unity of Nigerian people. We welcome such
conference but we are asking that there should be no limit to the discussion to
allow everyone to flow”.
Nnedum said there should be no grey areas or no go
area in the Conference and urged the government to keep it open for democratic
discussion.
The Association asked that no member of the National
Assembly should be allowed to make any input on the members of the Committee
because according to them, they are all biased politicians who would only allow
their political interest to be discussed to the detriment of the national
peace, unity and development.
The President of the Association called for
community representation where each of the communities in Nigeria would be
allowed to appoint their representatives rather than using those politicians at
the NASS to discuss on the interest of the communities. The Group also called
for the inclusion of professional bodies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO),
religious organizations, students, women groups, market women, labour unions, Teachers
and other stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
“Also, we are demanding that members of the
conference should be seen from the community chosen and NASS will not be
inclusive due to the fact that their political minds are biased. So, we cannot
get the best from them. In all we congratulate Mr. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,
over his independence celebration speech which was very clear and filled with
great reforms and idea”, Nnedum stated.
Nnedum said with the move to discuss about the unity
of Nigeria which the President has put in place, that it has reinforced the
Group’s believe that the President meant well for Nigeria and her unity. “Indeed, it speaks of Mr. President’s love for
one nation, unity of Nigeria and her development”, she said.
“Also, we are of the opinion that this national
dialogue should not be left in the hands of politicians and we pray that the
proposed Committees set up to bring about the modalities of the national
dialogue will take it upon themselves to fashion out the best necessary
modalities”.
All State Women Association of Nigeria Worldwide;
supported The president on the names chosen and praised him for selecting men and women of integrity who have
been tested and trusted as elderly
Statesmen and women and prayed that they should put first the interest of then
country before other tribal, ethnic and political affiliations.
“The names
listed are well selected and trusted, and we believe that they will come with
good and great arrangement and we advocate for community- leader-
representation to allow equal representation at the conference where nobody,
group, professional body or individuals will start crying for marginalization.”
According to the Group, the choice of those that would represent their people
shouldn’t be lord over their people and called for election by each community,
zones, constituencies, local governments and states to select who will
represent them. The Group frowned at the level where the Chiefs, Obas and Emirs
would hijack the process at the community level and appoint political stooges
to represent their communities.
“Everyone has
to discuss on how we can live as one united nation and fashion out the best
laws that can bring love and peace to Nigerians. And All State Women
Association of Nigeria Worldwide; wishes to demand from President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan and the Senate President to consider the role of women in
society when their fate would be discussed at the Confab”. The President
General stated.
She said that
Nigerian women must be well represented at the Confab while calling on National
Council Women Society of Nigeria (NCWS) to prepare well for the conference by
employing the services of all the women NGOs in the country for the sovereign
national conference, which Nnedum said must be based on representation from the
grassroots from all the Nigeria communities.
“We are of the opinion that we will speak better as
neutral and people that relates with the grassroots”.
In another development, the Group condemned the
killing of over 60 students in Borno by the Boko Haram goons and called for
cease fire. The Association said it’s high time the Sect dropped their bombs
and embrace peace for the continued existence of Nigeria.
Nnedum advocated that the Sectarian group should key
into the opportunity provided by the President to come to the Confab and said
their views on the way forward adding that the best way to let the nation know
their agitations was to go to the
round-table conference.
“Under the arranged Confab, I think the opportunity
for Boko Haram to speak is now. Let them come to the Confab and said their
grievances”, Nnedum pleaded.
“We use this medium to appeal to Boko Haram to have
a change of heart and use this 53rd independence anniversary of
Nigeria, and the Confab to stop their deadly act. We also are not happy about
it, as mothers. We are on our knees; we ask that they stop, whatever be the
cause; let them allow it to be discussed at the Sovereign National Conference”.
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