Posted by By Clifford Ndujihe on
SOME prominent politicians and leaders of ethnic nationalities in the country yesterday formed a grand political alliance in Lagos to resist the third term agenda and implement the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) nurtured constitution.
SOME prominent politicians and leaders of ethnic nationalities in the country yesterday formed a grand political alliance in Lagos to resist the third term agenda and implement the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) nurtured constitution.
After a marathon meeting held at the Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos residence of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the leaders, drawn from political parties, civil society groups and ethnic nationalities, among others, unfolded what they called "Project Social Alternative Nigeria 2007" as an ideological framework to halt what they described as the nation's drift into anarchy.
At the meeting under the aegis of the Ethnic Nationalities Movement (ENM) were Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Olu Falae, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Chief I. Otobo and George Ohemu.
Also present were Mr. Alfred Ilenre, Wale Okunniyi, Amagbe Kentebe and Elder Asu Beks of the Ijaw National Congress and Godfred Etikerealse who represented Chief Isaac Jemide of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality.
The gathering described the third term agenda as illegal and vowed to resist it. They also urged members of the National Assembly to resist alleged attempts of the Presidency to intimidate them into endorsing tenure elongation.
They said the Peoples National Conference (PNC) organised by the PRONACO is the surest avenue to give Nigerians a true constitution, which ideals could only be implemented by those who wrote it, hence the formation of the grand alliance.
Leaders of PRONACO had earlier said that they would establish a political platform to implement the outcome of their confab.
The Guardian learnt that yesterday's alliance is the outcome of their consultation with different sections and stakeholders in the country.
Briefing reporters on the resolutions of the meeting, ENM Secretary Mr. Michael Orobator said: "It is obvious that the ship of the state, which has been moving precariously is now moving in a direction we cannot define. The polity is being heated up further. So we have decided to unfold Project Social Alternative Nigeria 2007 to arrest the situation. The project collates the views of the ENM on the way forward for Nigeria."
He continued: "The Ethnic Nationalities Movement today affirms its support for the Peoples National Conference, having been partners of PRONACO over the period. We believe that the constitution emanating from the conference will address the problems of the country.
"We are aware that this constitution will gather dust in the shelf if those who wrote it do nothing to implement the ideals. So we have decided to form a grand alliance to serve as a platform to acquire power in 2007. As soon as the PNC constitution is ready we will give it due attention."
On the third term agenda, he said: "We have condemned it before, we are going beyond condemnation now. We will network with platforms of ethnic nationalities and others to resist tenure extension given the fact that President Olusegun Obasanjo could manipulate the system to get tenure elongation. We are not stopping at condemnation, we have marshalled out plans to resist the rule, which we will regard as illegal.
"We have sent out notices to all our legislators to consider the interests of Nigerians and resist all forms of coercion and intimidation to assist to elongate the tenure of Obasanjo and the governors."
On the chances of the alliance in the 2007 polls in view of its late formation, Orobator said the group has structures on ground to realise its objectives.
"Where there is a will, there is always a way. We have a base and structure on ground. We are solidly on ground. It is a grand alliance of those who are not in the bandwagon of those in government," he said.