FG adjusts confab delegates’ list, drops Afe Babalola

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim

The Federal Government on Thursday made some changes to the list of delegates to the national conference, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 17, 2014.

But the number of delegates to the conference that is holding in Abuja still remains the initial 492.

There have been protests by some ethnic minorities, religious interests and groups over their alleged marginalisation and exclusion by the government.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, said Dr. Kunle Olajide from Ekiti State replaced Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) in the elder statesmen category while Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro, the Etsu of Bwari, would replace Alhaji Ismail Danlami Mohammed, Sarki of Karshi, on the request of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

Following the crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Anyim said the nomination of Chief Chris Ejike Uche and Dr. Sagir Auwal Maidoya had been “withdrawn to allow the party resolve the issue of its nominees.”

In the Socio-Political/Cultural and Ethnic Nationality categories  (South-West Geo-political Zone), Prince Rabiu Oluwa replaces Supo Sonibare, while Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro, Ogun State, replaces Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), whose name is retained in the Oyo State delegates’ list.

For the National Council of Women Societies, Mrs. Millicent Okoronkwo replaces Mrs. Love Ezema on the request of the NCWS.

Prof. Layi Erinosho has been nominated by the Academy of Social Sciences to fill the one slot allocated to the academy.

In the category of former political office holders (former governors), the Former Governors’ Forum has nominated ex-Borno State governor, Alhaji Mohammed Goni, to fill the slot for the North-East geo-political zone.

The changes also affected some state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, with each state government submitting a nominee each to fill the vacant slot in their respective states.

The new delegates from the states are Delta State, Chief Isaac O. Jemide; Edo, Prof. Eddy Erhagbe; Oyo, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande; Rivers, Chief Sampson Agbaru; and Yobe, Abubakar Buba Galadima.

The names of Mr. Wole Oshun, Mr. Ledum Mittee, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mr. Anthony Akika, Alhaji Sule Iyaji and Ambassador Abdulmumuni M. Abubakar were also added to the list.

Our correspondent, however, learnt on Thursday that the government dropped Afe Babalola based on mutual agreement.

A delegate from the South-West told The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity that “the replacement of Afe Babalola with Olajide is a welcome development. It was based on a mutual understanding because I don’t think Dr. Olajide can lobby to push out a personality like Afe. It is impossible.

The source said, “If you don’t know, Dr. Olajide played an active role in the drafting of what would be the Yoruba agenda at the national confab. His name was supposed to be on the list and it was agreed that he should be allowed to participate because he did very well throughout the time we were meeting.

“A man who did very well like that deserved to be there. So, Afe (Babalola) decided to give him his slot; that was what happened.”

Efforts to get the renowned lawyer to respond to the development failed as several calls to his two telephone lines indicated that they had been switched off.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the National Conference has been scheduled for 4.30pm on Monday at the National Judicial Institute, along Airport Road, Abuja.

Anyim said all former Presidents and Heads of State, leadership of political parties, members of the National Assembly, state governors, members of the Judiciary, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the diplomatic corps, religious leaders and traditional rulers had been invited to the inauguration.

The Federal Government had a week ago released the list of 492 delegates to partake in the conference.

The government named Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Chief Olu Falae, Erelu Olusola Obada, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Mike Ahamba (SAN), Senator Azu Agboti, Chief Peter Odili, King Alfred Diete Spiff, Chief Edwin K. Clark, Mrs. Daisy Danjuma, Prof. Evara Ejemot Esu, Chief Nduese Esiene and Prof. Ambrose Okwoli as delegates in the category of elder statesmen.

Others are Alhaji Abdulahi Ohoimah, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Mr. Dogara Mark Ogbole, Prof. Jerry Gana, Gen. Jonathan Temlong, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, Mr. Ibrahim Bunu, Mr. Yerima Abdullahi, Mr. John Mamman, Alhaji Adamu Waziri and Alhaji Umaru Musa Zandan.

The list also includes Prof. Mohammed Jumari, Mallam Tanko Yakassai, Senator Ibrahim Idah, Justice Usman Mohammed Argungu, Prof. Sambo Jinadu, Ishia Aliyu Gusau and General A. B. Mamman (retd).

The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Thisday Newspapers, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; and Publisher, Daily Trust Newspapers, Mallam Kabir Yusuf, will represent the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria.

A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Mr. Supo Sonibare, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Dr. Adetokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, former Chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited and ex-chairman, NPAN, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; and legal practitioner, Niyi Akintola (SAN) were named as South-West delegates.

Other delegates from the South-West are Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin; Senator Anthony Adefuye, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Mr. Adegoke Moshood Salvador, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Dr. Amos Akingba; National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress, Chief Gani Adams; Dr. Femi Obayori and Pastor, Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare.

Gen. Zamani Lekwot; Maj.-Gen. Alex Mshelbwala, Rear Adm. C.S. Ehanmo, Brig.-Gen. D.O. Idada-Ikponmwen, Group Capt. Ohadomere and Maj.-Gen. Raji Rasaki are to represent retired military personnel.

Delegates of the civil society organisations are Nnimmo Bassey, Mahmood Aminu, Dr. Isaac Osuoka; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative & Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; coordinator, Partners for Electoral Reform, Ezenwa Nwagwu; Festus Okoye, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Ebuchukwu Ezike and Femi Falana (SAN), in the leaders of CSOs category.

  Source PUNCH.