LET THE ELECTION HOLD: STATEMENT BY CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL DELEGATES TO THE 2014 NATIONAL CONFERENCE; 04/02/2015: CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND CITIZENS INSIST
When the National
Conference was convoked in March 2014, some of us that chose to
participate in the process did so with the conviction that a Nigeria
that we can be proud citizens of is possible. We saw the National
Conference as a space for positive contestations and negotiations on
what should be the necessary policy, legislative and constitutional
directions that would curtail wastages, eliminate corruption and unjust
distributive politics that our nation has come to be known for.
We were very clear
the conference was not a gift from a generous ruler, but a concession
wrested from the jaws of a ruling elite undergoing a crisis that was
almost consuming it.
Civil society
groups involved in the process did their utmost to mirror and push the
desires of Nigerians for an arrangement that promotes full fiscal
federalism and where justice and fairness are enthroned. We pushed for
the justiciability of human, socio-economic and other rights of citizens
and even went as far as pushing for the recognition of the rights of
nature to regenerate itself.
At the conclusion
of the National Conference, except for a lack of unanimity on aspects of
the devolution of power, there were signs that if what were agreed on
were implemented the nation would be much better off than current
arrangements allow.
Even before the
National Conference was set in motion some Nigerians raised doubts about
the true intent of the exercise. They argued that what was needed was a
Sovereign National Conference whose output would be implemented without
being subjected to political manipulation. Some went as far as to say
that the timing of the Conference and the selection of delegates were
choreographed for political ends, namely to scuttle the 2015 elections.
The President
assured all that the true intent was for Nigerians to sit together,
discourse the affairs of the nation and chart a way forward for the
nation. We note that at the end of the day, apart from some hiccups and
heated contestations, the Conference ended with an output that has
generally been accepted as a good platform for progress for Nigeria.
We are however surprised that with less than two weeks to the 14 February 2015 date
of the Presidential elections, some Nigerians that were delegates to
the National Conference held a symposium in Abuja under the banner of
the National Conference demanding that the election should be
postponed.
We, the undersigned, wish to state unequivocally that:
1. We are not in support of any move to postpone, shift or abandon the election.
2. We believe that four years are long enough to prepare for and conduct an election.
3. We also
believe that it will severely insult the sensibility of citizens and
also the candidates who have invested so much energy campaigning and
preparing for the elections.
4. No one can call for the postponement of the election in our name without our consent.
5. We insist
that as things stand now, with the state of preparedness of all
stakeholders that the February 2015 general elections can, and must go
on according to the already announced schedule.
6. We are
convinced that any call or action taken now to the end of postponing,
shifting or abandoning the scheduled elections for any form of
transitional or interim arrangement will only serve to further inflame
the current situation and precipitate a crisis that will almost
certainly lead to the termination of the current democratic experience
in particular, and the democratisation process in general.
We call on Federal
and States Executives to implement the policy recommendations detailed
in the National Conference reports without further delay. We also call
on the National Assembly to take on board the constitutional amendments
agreed to at the Conference.
We are convinced
that our nation is at a critical historical junction, and that having a
critical role to play in the unfolding events and processes, it is our
historical duty to make this stand and to denounce the position of those
who have chosen to play games with the fate of our country, and who
have chosen to so do in our name without consulting us.
To this end we believe we are speaking on behalf of the Joint Labour-Civil Society Delegation to the 2014 National Conference.
The future of Nigeria and Nigerians must not be toyed with.
God bless Nigeria
Signed
- Femi Falana
- Nnimmo Bassey
- Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
- Jaye Gaskia
- Ezenwa Nwagwu
- Kyauta Giwa
- Abiola Akiode-Afolabi
- Steve Aluko Daniel
- Yz Ya’u
- Shetu I Alfa
- Rommy Mom
-
Mahmud
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