L
LequteMan
Guest
Mr. Okey Wali, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday while inaugurating the association’s committee on the national conference and constitutional review in Abuja declared support for a national conference and that its report would be validated by Nigerians tihrough a referendum.
Wali said the referendum, regardless of modalities for representation at the national conference, would give Nigerians of voting age the right to be part of the constitutional change.
He said the main issue was not about having a constitution, but whether or not the constitution represented the minds of the people.
"Since the Presidential Advisory Committee has submitted its recommendations on how to go about the national conference, it is expected that President Goodluck Jonathan sets the ball rolling as soon as possible.
"The president had in fact while receiving the report of the committee stated that this will take off in the first quarter of 2014,” he said.
Wali called on the members of the committee to consult with bar and come up with the a position on issues affecting the setting up and working of the conference.
He further urged the committee to among other things consider issues of national importance such as mode of representation for the national dialogue.
He also tasked them to deliberate on the political structure that best suit the country type of federalism to be operated in the country as well as the issue of social security.
The 15-man committee is headed by Awa Kalu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and has Titi Akinlanwo (SAN) as secretary.
Wali said the referendum, regardless of modalities for representation at the national conference, would give Nigerians of voting age the right to be part of the constitutional change.
He said the main issue was not about having a constitution, but whether or not the constitution represented the minds of the people.
"Since the Presidential Advisory Committee has submitted its recommendations on how to go about the national conference, it is expected that President Goodluck Jonathan sets the ball rolling as soon as possible.
"The president had in fact while receiving the report of the committee stated that this will take off in the first quarter of 2014,” he said.
Wali called on the members of the committee to consult with bar and come up with the a position on issues affecting the setting up and working of the conference.
He further urged the committee to among other things consider issues of national importance such as mode of representation for the national dialogue.
He also tasked them to deliberate on the political structure that best suit the country type of federalism to be operated in the country as well as the issue of social security.
The 15-man committee is headed by Awa Kalu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and has Titi Akinlanwo (SAN) as secretary.
