Date: 2012-02-06

Against the backdrop of the call for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and the planned return of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) due to issue of insecurity, the National Assembly (NASS) has described the move as unfair, diversionary and unnecessary.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at the weekend, member representing Baruten/Kaiama federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, said members of the National Assembly had been discussing issues in the minds of people they were representing.

"Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is unnecessary and diversionary and it is the thinking of some idle minds that want to occupy themselves. We appreciate NADECO fought for democracy and democracy is here and it has come to stay and military rule is an aberration. It can never come back to Nigeria.

"Convening SNC is about representation of Nigerians and you already have representation of Nigerians in us. One of the most credible elections that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted was the election that brought us. So, people in the NASS are representing the people and the security matter have occupied the front burner of discussion. 

"We have invited the service chiefs for private meetings from time to time to find solutions to the problem. Loss of confidence in institutions had been like that over time, but it's not fair for people to say they want to convene a SNC for now. Are we going to conduct elections to bring on representations for the SNC? How many tribes do we have in Nigeria? Is every tribe going to be represented? If they have a template for discussion, there are representatives to address such," he said.

The federal lawmaker, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the current situation in the country was not out of hand, adding that government needed to build confidence in the governed so that the people could believe in them.

"Whether we like it or not, we have been married together with the amalgamation of 1914. There is nothing we can do about it. We either float together or sink together. Those calling for a break away of Nigeria do not mean well for us. We cannot reduce ourselves to tribal forces and begin to play local champions. Nigeria is a unique country of several ethnic nationalities bonded together by nationality," he said.

He also said that Nigeria was blessed, saying 25 per cent of its potentials had not been tapped. He said lack of good leadership was the country's greatest undoing.

Speaking on the movement of some people across the country due to the threat of insecurity occasioned by Boko Haram menace, Honourable Mohammed said people should be sincere with national development rather than being alarmists.

He called on Nigerians to join hands to fight the menace since the toll had been on both Christians and Muslims, saying that Nigeria could not afford to dislocate.

On the purported division in the House over the subsidy probe, the lawmaker said the House was not divided. He said those who had benefited in the subsidy regime were just getting jittery because of the level of revelations, adding that the House would protect the probe from being thwarted.

"We will also ensure resolutions, recommendations on the revelations, and standing laws, using our legislative powers, are carried on to the letter and made public and all institutions and individuals indicted will definitely be brought to book because the issue of fuel touches on the lives of the common man and it has knock on effect on all the sectors of our economy", he said.