Why Confab Delegates Are Protesting In Abuja

Some delegates of the ongoing National Conference in Abuja staged a protest on Wednesday at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium, venue of the conference.

According to reports gathered from the protesting delegates, the reason for their protest is based upon the composition of membership of the 20 standing committees.

They also complained that there was no fairness and equity in the appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees.

 * Justice Idris Kutigi accused of unfairness in choosing leaders of committees
It was gathered that some women delegates also protested against the chairmanship of committees, alleging that they were not justly treated and that only few women were appointed into chairmanship positions unlike their men counterparts.

Some delegates shouted and accused the conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, of giving preference to delegates he considered superior to others.

At the resumed plenary on Wednesday, majority of the delegates disagreed with the Conference Secretariat on the composition of committees.

Shortly before taking complaints from delegates on the issue, the conference Chairman pleaded with delegates that since time was not on their side again, having spent a month out of the three months period required for the assignment to be completed, there was the need for work to be done and show something to Nigerians to justify why they were at the conference.

“One month is already gone out of the three months we were given by the President for this assignment and we have to produce something for Nigeria to justify our stay here,” he had pleaded.

When some of the delegates did not listen to his plea, Kutigi shouted at the delegates, stressing the need for respect for one another.

Apart from being denied their preferred committees, the delegates complained that most committees they considered more juicy were allotted to delegates considered superior to others.

A delegate from Edo State, Charles Edosomwan (SAN), who observed that delegates were not chosen in their areas of professionalism, suggested that they should be asked to submit memoranda to committees they feel they were relevant so that their interests can still be considered.

Princess Rabiu Ibrahim, a delegate from women organisation, protested that gender issue was not taken into consideration as women were not properly placed as chairmen of committees like their men counterparts, saying such was not in line with the 35 percent affirmative action which the country was preaching.