Eminent Elders Forum out with 19-point resolutions on how Nigeria can move forward

A group of eminent Nigerians under the aegis of Eminent Elders Forum has come up with 19-point resolutions on ways Nigeria can get out of its present sociopolitical and economic quagmires, advocating restructuring and reintroduction of 1963 constitution as parts of its resolution.

The eminent members of the group included former governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who is the Co-Chair, EEF Steering Committee; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, Alternate Chairman, EFF Steering Committee; Dr Akin Fapohunda, Secretary, EFF Steering Committee; Professor Chukwuemeka Eze Onukaogu, Chairman, EFF Communiques/Resolutions Committee.

Others were Hajia Dr Baraka Sani, Co-Chair, EEF Communiques/Resolutions Committee; Elder Muyiwa Ayo-Vaughan, Secretary, Communiques/Resolutions Committee; Elder Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu, Chairman, EFF Media and Publicity Committee; Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, Co-Chair, Media and Publicity Committee; Honourable Bright Omokhodion, Alternate Chairman, EFF Media and Publicity Committee; Honourable John Nwokocha, Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee and Professor Echefuna’ R. G. Onyebeadi, Convener/Coordinator, Eminent Elders Forum.

According to a statement by the forum, the membership comprises very top ranking senior citizens that have traversed all spheres of human endeavours including the very high politically exposed; high ranking fellows in the executive, legislative, judiciary, police, military, civil, public and private sectors of the country.

The statement said the body had a three-day virtual meeting/discussion between August 8 and 11 where they discussed topical national issues and the various problems bedevilling the country.

At the end of the meeting, the forum came up with 19-point resolutions on how to solve the problems of the country and the way forward for ensuring progress in all the spheres of lives in Nigeria.

The 19-point resolutions by the group are:

1. Change in attitude and utterances and style of governance by Major-General Mohammadu Buhari and his government. Respect for the rule of law, justice and fairness to all. Respect the spirit of federal character in all appointments into federal executive positions.

2. The armed forces should be more proactive to stop the killings, abductions, kidnapping and banditry; flush out the foreign invaders from Nigeria’s territorial space and restore security of lives and properties of citizens across the countries Nigeria.

3. Replace the 1999 Constitution (not Amendment) with the 1963 constitution with amendments to reflect today’s realities in Nigeria.

4. Above all, restore peace to all occupied land in all the states, rehabilitate and settle all the displaced people in the IDP camps back into their homes and ancestral lands.

5. Remember our first National Anthem at Independence: “Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land, though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand etc.” The last verse: “O God of all creation, grant this our one request, help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed and so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.”

6. The first National Anthem was the spirit that prevailed across the country. We say with all sense of responsibility that if we cannot re-enact such spirit in this nation called Nigeria, then without mincing words: to thy various tents oh Nigerians becomes a sine qua non. We can part in peace to allow each ethnic groups/nationalities to develop and manage their affairs at their own pace.

7. Justice, equity and fairness must return to our polity (society) in all recruitments/appointments particularly into various Federal Government ministries, agencies and parastatals, among others.

8. Appropriate application and respect for the law.

9. Proper handling and prosecution of reported cases of attacks and killings in the communities across the country

10. The solution is either: total mutual disintegration or deliberate restructuring of Nigeria in line with the vision of the founding leaders of Nigeria. We would rather prefer the latter to avoid the former.

11. To find a way out of the quagmire, we will need to do the followings:
(i). Accept that there is a deep-rooted problem plaguing the nation and accept faults where necessary and make amends.
(ii). Agree that Nigerian people have the right to determine if and how they want to continue to live and be governed

12. Put in place a constitution drafting committee that will consult across the country to draft a people’s constitution that must be subjected to a referendum.

13. Equity, fairness and justice must be the norm and not the exception that it is today.

14. Ethnic cleansing are grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva conventions and 1977 additional protocols and must be stopped forthwith.

15. Nigerians especially those aggrieved by the present obnoxious governance system should team up and exercise their electoral franchise to ensure that no person known to be grossly biased ethnically or a religious fanatic should ever occupy to any political and/or administrative office in Nigeria going forward.

16. The issue of religion(s) should be separated and distinct from state affairs.
The government has no business in religious affairs. Nigeria is a secular state and should be seen to be secular in all ramifications of governance in the country.

17. Prevent the present administrations both at federal and state levels by all reasonable and lawful means from causing further collateral damages in the remaining tenure of their administration.

18. Total restructuring on the basis of the 2014 national confab resolutions or as may be reasonably modified.

19. Repeal the 1999 constitution and re-introduce the 1963 constitution with necessary amendments to reflect today’s realities in Nigeria.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Eminent Elders Forum out with 19-point resolutions on how Nigeria can move forward

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.  Eminent Elders Forum out with 19-point resolutions on how Nigeria can move forward