Delegates Shun National Conference Over Jonathan’s ‘Daughter’s’ Wedding

Some delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja on Thursday abandoned the conference venue in order to attend the marriage ceremony of a daughter of President Goodluck Jonathan, according to a report.

*Empty seats at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja
It was gathered that the action raised unease among some delegates who frowned that their colleagues abandoned national issues for socializing.

Reports say about half of the delegates abandoned proceedings Thursday to enable them travel to attend the wedding coming upon 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.

A situation that made some of the delegates present expressed their concerns over the 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 added that: “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.”