Col Tony Nyiam (rtd)
•Sits out meeting at Enugu Govt House car park
•Commission apologises to Oshiomhole over heckling
•Igbo leaders endorse national conference
Onwuka Nzeshi, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, James Sowole, Adibe Emenyonu and Christopher Isiguzo
The controversial member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Col Tony Nyiam (rtd), who led a group of suspected party thugs to heckle Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City on Monday, was absent yesterday as the committee's train moved to the South-east.
Nyiam, who was identified as the arrowhead of the group that interrupted the governor as he was making his remarks at a stakeholders' meeting, arrived in Enugu along with other committee members but did not take part in Tuesday's proceedings.
At the proceedings, at which many of the governors from the South-east were absent, various groups and individuals in the zone made their submissions on how to ensure the success of the national dialogue.
THISDAY gathered that the embattled Nyiam, who is under pressure to resign his membership of the committee following his misconduct on Monday, was told to stay away from the committee's assignment in the South-east
.
As other committee members moved into the hall for the meeting with stakeholders, a source told THISDAY that Nyiam sat out the meeting in one of the vehicles that had conveyed the members to the state and was parked at the Enugu State Governor's House car park.
A committee member, who described Nyiam's conduct Tuesday as "real drama”, said he later followed the committee members to their hotel.
He said: “He followed us from the governor's house to the hotel. He also checked in. We left him there and went to visit Igwe Nike. He later surfaced at the venue of the meeting and sat in the audience.
“Some few minutes ago, I saw him in the restaurant of Neula Hotel where we have relocated to. I have just learnt that he is saying that his people have asked him not withdraw from the committee.
“He approached the chairman (Senator Femi Okunrounmu) and offered to withdraw his resignation but the latter refused. He said he will keep following us until he hears from the president.
“I overheard him saying that he will keep following us to ensure that we do not mess up what the president wants us to do.”
Nyiam's absence at the public hearing yesterday fuelled speculations that he might have heeded the advice by committee members that he should resign following his misconduct at the South-south zonal public sitting.
Though the chairman of the committee refused to give reasons why Nyiam was absent at the sitting in Enugu when confronted by reporters, it was gathered that other committee members had threatened to resign should Nyiam refuse to abide by their directive, prompting his last minute decision to remain in their vehicle “in the interest of peace”.
He was also said to have stayed back in their bus when the committee went for a courtesy call at the Government House where they were received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Patrick Okolo, on behalf of the governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime.
Peeved by Nyiam's action on Monday, the committee in a letter dated October 28 to Oshiomhole, apologised to the governor.
Nyiam's misconduct also drew reactions from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party's Edo State caucus in the House of Representatives and the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP).
At yesterday's proceedings, Igbo leaders, led by their apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in their submissions endorsed the proposed national dialogue.
The public sitting attracted prominent Igbo leaders such as a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Ohanaeze President General, Enwo Igariwey; former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu; Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Ambassador George Obiozor and Chief Enechi Onyia, among others. Chime was represented by the SSG.
In its presentation on behalf of the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the national dialogue was imperative as it would help in addressing crucial issues about the nation’s continued existence after 100 years of its amalgamation.
In a memorandum presented by its president general, the organisation called on all Nigerians to welcome the opportunity offered by the dialogue for self-assessment “to put our collective experience on the sieve of a national discourse and agree to retain those aspects of our national structure that work, restructure the obvious anomalies, and finally consign to the dustbin of history the aspects that do not work but retard our progress to national greatness.”
On the structure of the national dialogue, the organisation called for equal representation of the six geo-political zones with 60 delegates from each zone, adding that since the conference is about ethnic nationalities, it is expected that each zone will bring ethnic nationalities in their zone as well as special interest groups like women, labour unions, youths, religious groups and the disabled.
It said political parties should not play any part in the selection of delegates, while delegates should be selected based on each zone's natural diversities and composition.
To ensure the legality of the conference, Ohanaeze urged President Goodluck Jonathan to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to give legal backing to the conference.
It further recommended that the duration of the conference should not exceed September next year, adding that issues to be discussed should include the political structure of Nigeria; forms of government/tenure; devolution of power; revenue and fiscal federalism; derivation and distribution; citizenship rights; structure of the armed forces and other security agencies to improve security of lives and property; population and census; religion and secularism; as well as the place of traditional rulers and institutions, among others.
According to the group, the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national referendum after which without alteration, it should become the nation's new constitution.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the public hearing, Okunrounmu commended the orderly manner the Igbos made their presentations, adding that the turnout showed their commitment and support for the dialogue.
On the absence of governors from the zone from the public sitting, Okunrounmu said it did not affect the committee's sitting.
The committee has also apologised to the Edo State governor over the unruly conduct of Nyiam.
As the committee was apologising, APC, the state caucus of the party in the House of Representatives and CRPP in Edo state condemned the embarrassment caused to the governor at the meeting on Monday.
In a letter signed by Okunrounmu, entitled ‘Dialogue Committee Condemns Unruly Behaviour’ the committee said: “The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue wants to put it on the record that we noted the sad incident at today’s (Monday’s) interactive session with Nigerians from the South-south held in Benin City, Edo State.
“The committee wishes to state its unequivocal commitment and that of its members to the principles of democratic discourse. Although we take special exception to the unruly conduct of one of our members who joined the crowd in shouting down the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, while he was giving his remarks, the session continued and ended peacefully.
“We want to emphasise that the committee will listen to all shades of opinions in the areas of its mandates and will not henceforth condone the kind of unacceptable behaviour we witnessed in Benin City.”
Also reacting to Nyiam’s misconduct, the APC said the incident had vindicated its decision not to be part of the proposed conference.
In a statement yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committee must be ashamed of itself that one of its members led the show of shame that was put up in Benin.
It called on the committee to either publicly caution Nyiam or excuse him from the committee.
APC expressed shock and disgust that hired thugs, led by an out-of-control committee member, could so primitively treat the governor of a state hosting a meeting of the advisory committee.
It commended Oshiomhole for his maturity and decency despite the indignity meted out to him, adding that his disposition had averted what could have been a violent confrontation.
The Edo State caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives also condemned the heckling of Oshiomhole.
Leader of the caucus and Minority Whip in the House, Hon. Samson Osagie, described the attack as unwarranted and blamed the incident on the presence of “some hired personalities” who were brought to the meeting to embarrass Oshiomhole and the people of Edo State.
Addressing a news conference yesterday, the caucus said it was disappointed that the governor was prevented from airing his personal views at a meeting convened to listen to the views of Nigerians simply because it was unpalatable to some persons.
Osagie said the action of the mob at the meeting had betrayed the motive behind the proposed dialogue.
“We agree with our Comrade Governor that there have been 10 conferences which have yielded no positive results and this present effort is calculated to further fritter away public resources that are supposed to be channelled to public spirited ventures.
“What we need, in our own view, is a leadership that can break all barriers to our national development through purposeful, focused, courageous and visionary policies and programmes of government that will address the intractable problems of insecurity, unemployment, the infrastructure deficit and human capital development,” Osagie said.
In another condemnation, the CRPP said the incident was not only embarrassing but a forerunner of what to expect at the proposed conference.
The CRPP statement by its National Secretary, Dr. Samson Isibor, said Nyiam's conduct was the height of executive rascality and impunity that has now become the order of the day under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government.
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, yesterday also criticised Nyiam’s conduct.
It said the impressive turnout of various ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders at meetings where memoranda were submitted to the national dialogue committee had confirmed that Nigerians were truly yearning for the conference to discuss their future.
Afenifere, in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, which was presided over by its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said submissions by various ethnic groups and stakeholders had also revealed their opposition to subjecting the outcome of the conference to the approval of the National Assembly.
The group in the communiqué read by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka
Odumakin, however, expressed surprise that a major stakeholder was involved in the Benin incident.
•Commission apologises to Oshiomhole over heckling
•Igbo leaders endorse national conference
Onwuka Nzeshi, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, James Sowole, Adibe Emenyonu and Christopher Isiguzo
The controversial member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Col Tony Nyiam (rtd), who led a group of suspected party thugs to heckle Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City on Monday, was absent yesterday as the committee's train moved to the South-east.
Nyiam, who was identified as the arrowhead of the group that interrupted the governor as he was making his remarks at a stakeholders' meeting, arrived in Enugu along with other committee members but did not take part in Tuesday's proceedings.
At the proceedings, at which many of the governors from the South-east were absent, various groups and individuals in the zone made their submissions on how to ensure the success of the national dialogue.
THISDAY gathered that the embattled Nyiam, who is under pressure to resign his membership of the committee following his misconduct on Monday, was told to stay away from the committee's assignment in the South-east
.
As other committee members moved into the hall for the meeting with stakeholders, a source told THISDAY that Nyiam sat out the meeting in one of the vehicles that had conveyed the members to the state and was parked at the Enugu State Governor's House car park.
A committee member, who described Nyiam's conduct Tuesday as "real drama”, said he later followed the committee members to their hotel.
He said: “He followed us from the governor's house to the hotel. He also checked in. We left him there and went to visit Igwe Nike. He later surfaced at the venue of the meeting and sat in the audience.
“Some few minutes ago, I saw him in the restaurant of Neula Hotel where we have relocated to. I have just learnt that he is saying that his people have asked him not withdraw from the committee.
“He approached the chairman (Senator Femi Okunrounmu) and offered to withdraw his resignation but the latter refused. He said he will keep following us until he hears from the president.
“I overheard him saying that he will keep following us to ensure that we do not mess up what the president wants us to do.”
Nyiam's absence at the public hearing yesterday fuelled speculations that he might have heeded the advice by committee members that he should resign following his misconduct at the South-south zonal public sitting.
Though the chairman of the committee refused to give reasons why Nyiam was absent at the sitting in Enugu when confronted by reporters, it was gathered that other committee members had threatened to resign should Nyiam refuse to abide by their directive, prompting his last minute decision to remain in their vehicle “in the interest of peace”.
He was also said to have stayed back in their bus when the committee went for a courtesy call at the Government House where they were received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Patrick Okolo, on behalf of the governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime.
Peeved by Nyiam's action on Monday, the committee in a letter dated October 28 to Oshiomhole, apologised to the governor.
Nyiam's misconduct also drew reactions from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party's Edo State caucus in the House of Representatives and the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP).
At yesterday's proceedings, Igbo leaders, led by their apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in their submissions endorsed the proposed national dialogue.
The public sitting attracted prominent Igbo leaders such as a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Ohanaeze President General, Enwo Igariwey; former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu; Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Ambassador George Obiozor and Chief Enechi Onyia, among others. Chime was represented by the SSG.
In its presentation on behalf of the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the national dialogue was imperative as it would help in addressing crucial issues about the nation’s continued existence after 100 years of its amalgamation.
In a memorandum presented by its president general, the organisation called on all Nigerians to welcome the opportunity offered by the dialogue for self-assessment “to put our collective experience on the sieve of a national discourse and agree to retain those aspects of our national structure that work, restructure the obvious anomalies, and finally consign to the dustbin of history the aspects that do not work but retard our progress to national greatness.”
On the structure of the national dialogue, the organisation called for equal representation of the six geo-political zones with 60 delegates from each zone, adding that since the conference is about ethnic nationalities, it is expected that each zone will bring ethnic nationalities in their zone as well as special interest groups like women, labour unions, youths, religious groups and the disabled.
It said political parties should not play any part in the selection of delegates, while delegates should be selected based on each zone's natural diversities and composition.
To ensure the legality of the conference, Ohanaeze urged President Goodluck Jonathan to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to give legal backing to the conference.
It further recommended that the duration of the conference should not exceed September next year, adding that issues to be discussed should include the political structure of Nigeria; forms of government/tenure; devolution of power; revenue and fiscal federalism; derivation and distribution; citizenship rights; structure of the armed forces and other security agencies to improve security of lives and property; population and census; religion and secularism; as well as the place of traditional rulers and institutions, among others.
According to the group, the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national referendum after which without alteration, it should become the nation's new constitution.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the public hearing, Okunrounmu commended the orderly manner the Igbos made their presentations, adding that the turnout showed their commitment and support for the dialogue.
On the absence of governors from the zone from the public sitting, Okunrounmu said it did not affect the committee's sitting.
The committee has also apologised to the Edo State governor over the unruly conduct of Nyiam.
As the committee was apologising, APC, the state caucus of the party in the House of Representatives and CRPP in Edo state condemned the embarrassment caused to the governor at the meeting on Monday.
In a letter signed by Okunrounmu, entitled ‘Dialogue Committee Condemns Unruly Behaviour’ the committee said: “The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue wants to put it on the record that we noted the sad incident at today’s (Monday’s) interactive session with Nigerians from the South-south held in Benin City, Edo State.
“The committee wishes to state its unequivocal commitment and that of its members to the principles of democratic discourse. Although we take special exception to the unruly conduct of one of our members who joined the crowd in shouting down the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, while he was giving his remarks, the session continued and ended peacefully.
“We want to emphasise that the committee will listen to all shades of opinions in the areas of its mandates and will not henceforth condone the kind of unacceptable behaviour we witnessed in Benin City.”
Also reacting to Nyiam’s misconduct, the APC said the incident had vindicated its decision not to be part of the proposed conference.
In a statement yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committee must be ashamed of itself that one of its members led the show of shame that was put up in Benin.
It called on the committee to either publicly caution Nyiam or excuse him from the committee.
APC expressed shock and disgust that hired thugs, led by an out-of-control committee member, could so primitively treat the governor of a state hosting a meeting of the advisory committee.
It commended Oshiomhole for his maturity and decency despite the indignity meted out to him, adding that his disposition had averted what could have been a violent confrontation.
The Edo State caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives also condemned the heckling of Oshiomhole.
Leader of the caucus and Minority Whip in the House, Hon. Samson Osagie, described the attack as unwarranted and blamed the incident on the presence of “some hired personalities” who were brought to the meeting to embarrass Oshiomhole and the people of Edo State.
Addressing a news conference yesterday, the caucus said it was disappointed that the governor was prevented from airing his personal views at a meeting convened to listen to the views of Nigerians simply because it was unpalatable to some persons.
Osagie said the action of the mob at the meeting had betrayed the motive behind the proposed dialogue.
“We agree with our Comrade Governor that there have been 10 conferences which have yielded no positive results and this present effort is calculated to further fritter away public resources that are supposed to be channelled to public spirited ventures.
“What we need, in our own view, is a leadership that can break all barriers to our national development through purposeful, focused, courageous and visionary policies and programmes of government that will address the intractable problems of insecurity, unemployment, the infrastructure deficit and human capital development,” Osagie said.
In another condemnation, the CRPP said the incident was not only embarrassing but a forerunner of what to expect at the proposed conference.
The CRPP statement by its National Secretary, Dr. Samson Isibor, said Nyiam's conduct was the height of executive rascality and impunity that has now become the order of the day under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government.
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, yesterday also criticised Nyiam’s conduct.
It said the impressive turnout of various ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders at meetings where memoranda were submitted to the national dialogue committee had confirmed that Nigerians were truly yearning for the conference to discuss their future.
Afenifere, in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, which was presided over by its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said submissions by various ethnic groups and stakeholders had also revealed their opposition to subjecting the outcome of the conference to the approval of the National Assembly.
The group in the communiqué read by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka
Odumakin, however, expressed surprise that a major stakeholder was involved in the Benin incident.
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