Delegates to the ongoing national conference may have a rowdy session today as tension is high over suspected manipulation of a section of the country to secure relevance through the back-door.
Our correspondent was reliably informed by some delegates from the southern part of the country that their colleagues from the north had succeeded in pushing for a list that will give them relevance in notable committees that are billed to be constituted later today.
From the list so far released which has been distributed to the delegates, it was argued that only few delegates from the south got appointed to the committee where they would be most relevant.
For instance, Dr Femi Obayori, who represents the civil society group under the Coalition for Self Determination Groups (COSEG) and from a minority tribe in Kogi State, found his name under the science and technology committee just as a sundry others.
It was gathered that the northern delegates, having earlier raised complaints to the presidency that they were being short changed in the composition of the delegates, had opted for dominance in strong committees that would make their voice come strong in the decision of the conference.
The composition of the delegates has been about 58 per cent in favour of the south and 48 per cent to the north, even as the north further complained that the Muslim are in the minority in the conference, a development the presidency said is currently looking into with a view to strike a balance.
However, the southern delegates, particularly, those from the south west convened a meeting in the Osun State House in Asokoro district in Abuja and resolved to resist any move to impose leadership from the north on them in those committees.
It is expected that the delegates from the Niger-Delta would have a hectic time to bring themselves into relevance in the committees as prominent names among them are found in weak committees.
The name of Edwin Clark was not found in any of the committees’ list made available to newsmen covering the conference.
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