ASARI DOKUBO, GBONIGI, MASSOB IN COURT FOR PRONACO

Prominent Nigerians, including Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, esteemed and frontline Yoruba leader, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force, Dr Amos Akingba of the Movement for Yoruba Autonomy, MOYA, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF; leading various delegations, among which were teeming supporters and Chieftains of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB among other prominent Nigerians stormed  the federal high court, Maitama, Abuja this morning to demonstrate their solidarity for the suit filed against the federal government by Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Christian Chuckwuma Onoh, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Mujaheedat Asari Dokubo and Alhaji Yerima Shettima over the legitimacy and continued operation of the 1999 constitution against the popular demand that it be replaced by the new peoples constitution of PRONACO

The high point of events at the court this morning was the conveyance of Chief Raph Uwazurike's decision to be joined in the suit by MASSOB delegation. The delegation of MASSOB, which came in large numbers was also full of praises for the PRONACO initiative.

Also at the court were members of the Peoples Constitution Advocacy Team led by Mr Wale Okunniyi, Spokesman of PRONACO who also used the occasion to convey the message of Chief Anthony Enahoro who was unavoidably absent  to the lawyers. The advocacy group while giving graphic details of the advocacy plan of the group also used the occasion to distribute some advocacy materials at the court premises calling for the replacement of the 1999 constitution with the Peoples Constitution to save the nation of more crisis.

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Although the court could not eventually sit, the court registrar however came into the courtroom to apologize to those present on behalf of Justice Binta Murtala Nyako, who he said was absent due to the fatigue from her involvement in hosting the conference of Judges in Abuja till late last night.  A new date of Thursday, October 25,2007 was later chosen by the court.

Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, PRONACO Counsels, which include Mr Tony Nnadi esq, Barr. Titi Akosa, Barr O. Manafa and Barr Ike Ken said they are convinced that the matter will help to peacefully resolve the lingering  rancour in Nigeria and that the National Assembly should only initiate a process that can give the nation a brand new constitution and not ammendments. They however noted that the National Assembly lacks constituent powers to give the nation a new constitution for the country without first resorting to a constituent assembly. They also want government to learn from the post apartheid constitutional approach of  the South Africans.