Confab: I have no ulterior motive —Kutigi •Meets with zonal leaders

SMART moves by the chairman of the national conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (retd), saved the plenary on Wednesday from possible anarchy and unnecessary fireworks.
Kutigi, in a veiled statement, told the northern delegates that the leadership of the conference had no ulterior motive for the inclusion of draft new constitution in the final reports distributed to delegates for consideration.

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The northern delegates, under the umbrella of Northern Delegates Forum (NDF), also on Wednesday, came under heavy attacks by the delegates from North-Central, South-East, South-South and South-West over alleged plot to sabotage the final consideration of the conference reports.
Prior to the proceedings of Wednesday, core northern delegates had drafted a proposal, rejecting the inclusion of draft new constitution in the final reports to be considered.
Sensing that there was going to be trouble, Kutigi told delegates that the conference should be adjourned for some hours to allow delegates submit their observations, corrections and grievances on the draft reports earlier distributed to them on Monday.
Accordingly, his suggestion received applause from southern and Middle-Belt delegates, but northern delegates kicked against it, insisting on raising the issues during the plenary.
Based on majority decision, the conference was adjourned till today for consideration of the final reports.
Kutigi, in his brief remark, told the conference: “I welcome you back after the break of the past two weeks. We are in our final lap of the conference. I apologise for the inconveniences you might have experienced for the shift in date of our resumption.
“When you look at the heavy volume made out of the draft report, the notes and proceedings, as well as the 1999 Constitution, with amendment, proposed by you, then you will understand the amount of work we undertook in preparation for this week’s meeting.
“Let me at this stage stress this point. We have prepared this draft report to the best of our ability and with all honesty. But we are human beings, who can make mistakes.
“We are, therefore, making available copies of the draft so that if we have any doubt about any issue, you can cross check. If you have any doubt about the veracity of any issue, you can cross check with the votes and proceedings and then raise the issue and corrections will be accepted.
“Let me repeat. We have prepared the main report with all honesty and diligence. Any mistake will be due to human error and not with any ulterior motive.”
Kutigi also announced a fresh meeting with regional leaders, in a move to break any hiccup that might arise today when delegates reconvene.
“I will be meeting the leaders of the different delegations while other delegates write their comment on the report. Let us make it tomorrow (today) so that the secretariat can tidy up the report for a final consideration,” he announed.
Soon after the adjournment, southern leaders and their Middle-Belt counterparts held a press conference where they condemned plans by any section of the country or individual to sabotage the successes recorded so far by delegates.
At the press conference were Chief Olu Falae (South-West), General Ike Nwachukwu (South-East), Chief Edwin Clark (South-South) and Mr John Dara (North-Central).
The regional leaders unanimously agreed that no individual or group inserted anything into the draft documents, as being rumoured by northern delegates, adding that those making the arguments were mischief-makers bent on keeping the country hostage.
General Nwachukwu (retd) said the conference had succeeded in liberating minority groups in the country and had also placed every Nigerian on the same level.
The regional leaders said they were solidly behind the leadership of the conference, adding that anyone who felt aggrieved should formally write to the conference leadership.
Chief Falae said delegates from certain section of the country were angry because the conference had succeeded in reversing the status quo.
With the new marriage between southern leaders and their Middle-Belt counterparts, core northern delegates are now in the minority.
Other prominent southern delegates who attended the press conference and supported the position of the conference leadership included Professor Anya O. Anya, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Chief Charles Edosonwan (SAN), among others.
Meanwhile, delegates representing Ondo State at the conference, on Wednesday, distanced themselves from any plot to guarantee third term for President Goodluck Jonathan or any other political office holders in the country as alleged by northern delegates.
Leader of the delegation, Remi Olatubora, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the allegation was an attempt to smear the good work done by the delegates and leadership of the conference.
“Let me state clearly that we, as delegates of Ondo State, are not part of any third term agenda. We came to represent the government and good people of Ondo State and we have no mandate on the third term or tenure elongation.
“We are basically asked to come here to be part of the process of re-engineering and reconstructing Nigeria,” he said.