Saturday, April 23, 2005

Bribery scandal rocks confab SUNDAY CHAMPION April 24 2005 Bribery scandal rocks confab IFEANYI ALIA INDICATIONS that a wide gulf now exists between Northern and southern delegates at the ongoing National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC), emerged during the week as allegations of bribing of delegates to kowtow on certain crucial issues filled the air. Saturday Champion gathered from an impeccable source within the confab that some Northern delegates may have resorted to courting by all means their South-South and South-East counterparts concerning the vexed issues of resource control, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation state police, among others. The source a prominent member of the confab who however pleaded anonymity regretted the development, adding that the North is now bent on ensuring that the final outcome of the confab becomes a wishy-washy affair which at the end of the day would not satisfy the yearnings, and aspirations of Nigerians. The NPRC has since entered crucial committee stages as delegates are busy in their different and respective committees which bother on vital areas of the polity. The outcome of the committees work are expected to form the fulcrum of the confab reports and recommendation. Our source stated that some delegates from the Northern part of the country have been trying to bribe mainly South South and South-East delegates to stand against the volatile issues particularly resource control and confederation which are considered to be purely against the Northern interests. Our source, who was one of those approached concerning the so-called bribe-for confab report deal, was however saddened by the issue, adding that those who had wished failure for the confab may at the end of the day, laugh last following the current happenings. Indications showed that apart from the daily N30,000 paid to each of the 368 delegates, the delegates now see the confab as an avenue to amass wealth. It would be recalled that President Obasanjo recently indicted the National Assembly over the incidence of corruption, a development which had warranted many heads to roll at the centre. Saturday Champion gathered during the week that the bribe-for-report scandal is currently causing ripples within the precepts of the conference venue as delegates are said to be becoming increasing aware of what is at stake. © 2005 @ Champion Newspapers Limited (All Right Reserved). Powered By dnetsystems.net <http://www.dnetsystems.net> dnet® © 2005 @ Champion Newspapers Limited (All Right Reserved). Powered By dnetsystems.net dnet® 5:15:30 PM    comment []

Pro-Obasanjo Groups Emerge at National Conference THIS DAY Pro-Obasanjo Groups Emerge at National Conference From Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 04.23.2005 Two separate groups, the Nationalists and the Delegates Forum, have emerged within the National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC). They are believed to be working  closely with President Olusegun Obasanjo to influence the decisions of the conference. The membership of these two groups cut across the six geo-political zones. Basically, these groups represent the President's eye at the conference. The Nationalist Group under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Mohammed Waziri and Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, both government nominees, meet in Abuja every Tuesday, while the Delegates Forum under the Chairmanship of Professor Jerry Gana meets every Wednesday. Both meetings take place at the Rockview Hotel in Abuja. It was gathered that the Nationalists have over 100 delegates always in attendance, while the Delegates' Forum has over 60 delegates. A source who spoke to THISDAY said that the basic aim of the groups is to ensure that government's viewpoint always sails through at the committee level. According to the source, "we meet to decide a position on every issue that would be taken. We have been meeting since the conference started its committee session. We meet and decide what position to take. Our meetings will continue until a final draft report is ready and submitted to government. "You don't expect that we meet on our own initiative. Those who nominated us to the conference have a mission and that is why we meet always before decisions are taken. We are also cooperating with Jerry Gana's Delegates Forum." According the source, the two groups were formed as a result of fears that the pro-Atiku Abubakar group in the conference led by Professor Ango Abdullahi and the IBB group  led by General Garba Duba will dominate and hijack the conference. It was gathered that the Nationalist members include Mohammed Waziri, former ministers like Kanu Agabi, Kema Chikwe, Emeka Omeruah, Garba Nadama, Bayo Ojo of the Nigeria Bar Association, Venatius Ikem, Bibi Farouk, both  of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Olu Alabi, Yakubu Ibrahim Lami, Ambassador Jumba among others. According to the source, whenever Waziri is not around, Ambassador Yerima Abdullahi deputises for him. It was also gathered that the Gana's Delegates Forum has Mrs. Toyo Nkoyo and Mike Ozhekome as members. When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President, Jerry Gana confirmed that they meet always to take a position on issues, saying "what we are doing is to build consensus on issues before decisions are taken. You can attend, if you wish." The source said that both groups are aware that President Obasanjo is reluctant in contesting for a third term in office, but said "once we are sure that the six year term is inscribed in the constitution, then we begin our campaign for him to stay till 2009. This is to ensure that his reforms are at least over eighty percent concluded." The source explained that the two groups will be most effective henceforth for the purposes of checking the growing influence of delegates who are out to cause trouble at the conference. It was also gathered that the major targets for the groups would be those delegates that wrote letters to the President dissociating themselves from the draft constitution. 5:09:47 PM    comment []