Rush For Jonathan's 'Daughter's' Wedding Empties Confab Hall

The rush by delegates to attend the marriage ceremony of a daughter of President Goodluck Jonathan raised unease among some delegates who frowned that conferees abandoned national issues for socializing. About half of the delegates abandoned proceedings Thursday to enable them travel to attend the wedding coming up, Saturday, March 5, 2014 in Bayelsa State. When the conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi called for contributions to the debate of the President's speech, many of the delegates were not around as their seats were empty. The immediate past Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai (Jigawa) and former Head of Service, Engr. Ebele Okeke were among those who took permission to speak ahead of their scheduled slots to enable them go ahead for the ceremony. Their requests were, however, granted by Justice Kutigi. Some of the delegates, however, expressed concern over development, as they argued that those delegates failed to realise the importance of the national conference because they were not expected to trivialise a state call for a wedding ceremony. Mr Ebuchukwu Ezike, representing the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO noted that Nigerians were watching and expecting positive reports from the conference, just as he said it was unfortunate that delegates were not taking it seriously. He warned that if serious action was not taken, it may jeopardise the success of the conference, adding, 'if delegates continue like this, Nigerians would not take the conference serious. Delegates have the option of turning the nomination down ab initio if it would affect their personal business or political activities, but it was clear that the money attracted some of the delegates. Now they realised that the amount publicised was not what they were being given, they have become disinterested in the whole exercise.'