Sitting arrangement adjusted at Confab, Ozekhome gets Boko Haram threat

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MOVED by the issue of time frame,  delegates at the on- going National Conference yesterday adjusted its sittings to, among others, allow Muslim delegates observe the Ramadan fast just as Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN),  told the conference that he had gotten  a message that the Boko Harm sect  was threatening an “attack even bigger than Nyanya blast” .


Also delegates to the conference would have their lunch monetized for the period.
Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi proposed an amendment to the work-plan of the conference in order to create opportunity for Muslim delegates observe their prayers as well as break their fast with their families, said in his proposal that the conference should have a marathon sitting from 9am to 3:30pm as against the usual 9am to 2pm for break for lunch and resume by 4pm and adjourn at 6pm.
It was, however, unanimously accepted by the delegates.

The delegates also agreed that two days would now be devoted to consideration of the pending three committee reports.
Accordingly, one day would be dedicated to debate on a committee report while amendments and voting is carried out the following day.
Meanwhile, delegates at the conference called for scrapping of the lunch following a proposal by the conference chairman that cash be paid to Muslims delegates who were observing the Ramadan fasting and could not take the lunch.


Kutigi said:

“We are aware that many of us will be fasting and will not take lunch here. As such, we will open a register so that those who will not take lunch will be paid”.

However, while the proposal was applauded by the Muslim delegates, another delegate representing South South, Chief Sergeant Awuse, who called for an amendment to the proposal, suggested that instead of opening a register for delegates, lunch should be completely scrapped and monetised for all delegates.
Awuse argued that this would prevent a situation where those who were not observing Ramadan would take advantage of the opportunity to request for monetisation of their lunch.


He said

 “We should scrap lunch completely so that people, who are not fasting, will not write their names. We can do without lunch. We can manage and support those who are fasting by doing without lunch”.

His amendment was taken as delegates unanimously agreed that the lunch be monitised during the period of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, a Federal Government delegate, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN told delegates that he got a message from the United Nations office that there were plans to bomb  Abuja, and that the bombings would  be heavier than the earlier ones, just as he called for caution among delegates.
Delegates will however continue debate on the report of Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters which has former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ken Nnamani as co- Chairmen, just as sixty delegates spoke on it yesterday.
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