This was contained in a communique issued by the forum at the end of its two days of deliberations, which ended in Abuja, on Wednesday and read by Yinka Odumakin of Afenirere.
The group decided to attend the planned confab and also continue with the agitation for a “proper conference,” which would produce a new constitution that should be subjected to a referendum.
“That whilst the number of ethnic nationalities characterised by a common traditional territory, common indigenous language and other distinction, cultural traits that set each apart from other groups is a matter of disputation, the ethnic nationalities are a sociological reality
“That they are the sociological and cultural foundation of the Nigerian State; that the Nigerian State has no territory other than or different from the territories of the various ethnic nationalities comprised within it.
“That the ethnic nationalities are the original and primary stakeholders of the Nigerian project, having existed long before colonialism and are the primary targets and sufferers from marginalisation, oppression and injustice which abound in the country.
“Accordingly and because they are the heart and soul of the Nigerian State, the nationalities demand as their inalienable right that they should be given legal recognition in the constitution and their status as separate nation or nationalities should also be recognised.
“That efforts should be made to harmonise the recognition of ethnic nationalities and their inherent rights on the one hand and the citizenship rights of the individual Nigerian by the state, federal, and local governments, discharging fairly, justly and equitably the duties laid on it by Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of the state in Chapter two of the 1999 Constitution,” the communique read.
The forum further affirmed that recognition of the right was not inconsistent with the indissolubility or the perpetuity of the Nigerian State.
“The forum affirms that as every Nigerian belongs to an ethnic group. Mutual understanding, respect, cooperation and solidarity between the ethnic nationalities is needed to enable Nigeria’s many and seemingly intractable problems to be addressed and for the ethnic groups to coalesce into one nation,” it added.
It asked that ethnic nationalities conference be made an annual or bi-annual event.
Southern leaders endorse Jonathan for 2015
The Southern Nigerian People’s Assembly (SNPA) may have endorsed the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying he has a right to complete his two-term tenure if he so wishes.
Speakers at the fourth general conference of the assembly, held in Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, said President Jonathan had the right to contest because “Nigeria belongs to all of us.”
The speakers contended that the threat by some individuals in certain parts of the country against Jonathan seeking a second term did not hold water.
Part of the reasons for the re-election bid of Jonathan, according to the speakers, was the achievements so far recorded in his first term, which they described as unparalleled.
They cited the success of the partial removal of oil subsidy, the overhaul of the railway sector, rehabilitation and construction of roads across the country and the successful privatisation of the power sector, among others.
In his opening remarks, chairman of SNPA, Chief Edwin Clark, who expressed appreciation to President Jonathan for daring into uncommon areas where his predecessors failed, noted that the proposed national conference was enough to humble doubting Thomases.
Clark, however, challenged the president to fight the battle against corruption in a manner he had dexterously fought the electricity cabal to dismantle the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
The former Minister of Information, while making a reference to the last communique issued by the SNPA in Lagos, asked President Jonathan to declare a state of emergency on corruption and set up anti-corruption tribunal to fight the menace, in addition to strengthening anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Ijaw leader appealed to the 17 governors of the Southern Nigeria to, like their counterparts in the North, collaborate without prejudice to party affiliations and political differences.
On the ongoing defections by members of the National Assembly in the country, the elder statesman described the situation as unhealthy for Nigeria’s democratic experiment, calling on the members of the National Assembly to be a lot more circumspect.
THE Ethnic Nationalities Forum, on Wednesday, rejected the Federal Government’s decision on no-go area at the proposed forthcoming national conference.
Rising from its meeting in Abuja, the forum, comprising about 50 ethnic nationalities across the country, also demanded for the inclusion of the right to self-determination, adding that right to secession should be enshrined in Nigeria’s new constitution.
This was contained in a communique issued by the forum at the end of its two days of deliberations, which ended in Abuja, on Wednesday and read by Yinka Odumakin of Afenirere.
The group decided to attend the planned confab and also continue with the agitation for a “proper conference,” which would produce a new constitution that should be subjected to a referendum.
“That whilst the number of ethnic nationalities characterised by a common traditional territory, common indigenous language and other distinction, cultural traits that set each apart from other groups is a matter of disputation, the ethnic nationalities are a sociological reality
“That they are the sociological and cultural foundation of the Nigerian State; that the Nigerian State has no territory other than or different from the territories of the various ethnic nationalities comprised within it.
“That the ethnic nationalities are the original and primary stakeholders of the Nigerian project, having existed long before colonialism and are the primary targets and sufferers from marginalisation, oppression and injustice which abounds in the country.
“Accordingly and because they are the heart and soul of the Nigerian State, the nationalities demand as their inalienable right that they should be given legal recognition in the constitution and their status as separate nation or nationalities should also be recognised.
Source: Tribune
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