A Former PDP Deputy Chair Lobby's Tinubu: Adopt Confab Recommendations for Late Elder Statesmen
NigeriaDiscussion in 2014: Bode George Sends Letter to Tinubu Regarding Nation's Condition
Bode George, once the Deputy National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), humbly requested President Bola Tinubu to heed the 2014 Constitutional Conference (Confab) recommendations as a token of respect for the passing of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark.
In a press conference held in Lagos on Friday, Bode George paid tribute to these influential nationalists who have recently departed. Adebanjo, renowned leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere, passed away at 96 on February 14 and will be laid to rest today in Ogun State. Similarly, Clark, a prominent leader from the Niger Delta, who sadly passed away at 97 on February 17, will be interred on May 13 in Delta State.
Our sources report that these esteemed figures are admired for their contributions to the 2014 Constitutional Conference, orchestrated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Emphasizing the importance of these elder statesmen's legacies, George contended that the most befitting tribute would be to unveil and enact the resolutions that encapsulate their vast life experiences, ultimately benefiting our nation.
The former naval commodore and ex-military governor of Ondo State shared a close relationship with Adebanjo and Clark during the conference, collaborating with them in the same subcommittee, dedicated to determining the optimal constitutional system.
With passion, George pleaded with Tinubu, "Mr. President, I beseech you today, May 2 to make public the 2014 Confab report, for the good of the people in this country, in memory of these two esteemed individuals and to immortalize their names."
"These elderly statesmen are urging Tinubu to release and implement this report, as it was unanimously agreed upon by the delegates at the plenary session," George clarified.
He continued, "Our current state of affairs seems to stumble in various sectors, such as the economy, politics, and security. It's essential for us to revisit the report and consider its suggestions in light of the current predicament."
George was convinced that the confab's resolutions could alleviate many of the pressing issues plaguing the nation, such as corruption, nepotism, sectionalism, poverty, and security threats.
Regarding the ongoing economic difficulties and security challenges, George encouraged Tinubu to persevere in overcoming these hardships and security threats. In addition, he applauded the necessity of reforming the electoral process to ensure that elections authentically represent the will of the people.
Despite the recent departure of numerous PDP members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), George remained perplexed by the genuine motivations behind these transitions. Still, he called for urgent conflict resolution within the PDP to restore trust in the party.
Addressing PDP leaders, George highlighted the importance of prioritizing the collective interests of the party above personal ambitions and firmly stated, "The PDP is not dead yet."
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Background Info
The recommendations from the 2014 Nigerian Constitutional Conference were advanced to rectify the fundamental defects in the 1999 Constitution that have long impeded the nation's development. Overall, the conference focused on significant constitutional reforms to create a fairer, more functional federation.
- Decentralization of Power: The Confab urged for reducing the concentration of power at the center and improving regional and local governance autonomy through structural changes.
- Revision of Local Government Structure: Addressing disparities in the number of local government areas (LGAs) among states and their funding mechanisms was a central concern, as Lagos' 20 LGAs contrasted sharply with Kano's 44 LGAs that receive equal allocations. The conference recommended reviewing and rationalizing these structures for fairness and efficiency.
- New Constitution: The delegates sought a new constitution that would genuinely cater to the needs and aspirations of ordinary Nigerians, filling gaps that hinder effective governance.
- National Challenges: The report emphasized the need to address corruption, nepotism, poverty, sectionalism, security, and economic problems through constitutional and systemic reforms.
- Electoral Reforms: Urgent calls for electoral reforms in the conference aimed to ensure that elections faithfully represent the will of the Nigerian people.
Since the conference, the implementation of these key recommendations has been slow, with Bode George and other political figures repeatedly urging the current administration to adopt the 2014 National Conference report to bring the vision of the late Adebanjo and Clark to fruition [1][2][3][4][5]. However, to date, there remains no significant constitutional change reflecting the confab's recommendations. The political landscape continues to be fraught with ongoing debates about restructuring and the role of federalism, as the 1999 constitution—with recognized flaws—still primarily governs the country. The calls to revise the electoral system, decentralize power, and address corruption and sectionalism through constitutional mechanisms are becoming increasingly urgent [1][2][3].
- Bode George, the former PDP Deputy Chair, implored President Bola Tinubu to adopt the recommendations from the 2014 Constitutional Conference, as a tribute to late nationalists Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away recently.
- George emphasized the importance of these elder statesmen's legacies, arguing that the most fitting tribute would be to enact the resolutions from the conference, which encapsulate their vast life experiences and would benefit Nigeria.
- During the conference, George collaborated closely with Adebanjo and Clark in a subcommittee dedicated to determining the optimal constitutional system for Nigeria.
- George encouraged Tinubu to release the 2014 Confab report, as it was unanimously agreed upon by the delegates, to alleviate pressing issues such as corruption, nepotism, sectionalism, poverty, and security threats that currently plague the nation.
- George maintained that the confab's resolutions could help resolve ongoing economic difficulties, security challenges, and the need for reforming the electoral process, ensuring authentic representation of the people's will.
- Despite recent PDP members transitioning to the APC, George urged his party leaders to prioritize the collective interests of the party above personal ambitions and work towards restoring trust within the party.
