From last week, continues the list of the principal officers of the First Republic Northern Peoples Congress   which existed as a political party to pursue and advance the political and economic interests of the then Northern Region. 

Others were Mr. Michael Audu Buba, Alhaji Shehu Usman, Galadima Maska, Habib Raji Abdullahi, Alhaji Mu’azu Gambo, Alhaji Sani Okin, Mallam Hassan Ahmed, Alhaji Audu Anance, Alhaji Dalhatu Bida, Mallam Gwani Jatau, Mallam J. Tanko Yusuf, Alhaji Muhammadu Kokori Abdul, Alhaji Tijani Hashim, Mallam Muhammadu Sokoto, Mallam Abba Masta, Alhaji Usman Sulayman, Mallam Haliru Zarma Hong, Mr. Edmond B. Mamiso, Alhaji Ndagi Farouq and Mallam Muhammadu King. 

From the above, one could see the direction of the party. Fortunately, Section 173 of the 1978 electoral decree has made it entirely impossible for a political party to represent regional interest. 

There have been several attempts to force this country to have a one-party structure or a two-party structure. But the boldest attempt was made by General Ibrahim Babangida, 83. 

On January 10, 1986, he established a 17-member political bureau to oversee and co-ordinate the debate on the political future of the country. Three days later, that is on January 13, 1986, he inaugurated the bureau. The bureau was headed by Professor Sylvanus John Sodienye Cookey, an historian from Opobo in Rivers State.  Professor Cookey was born on April 9, 1934. In 1982, he became the second Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. He is the first President of the Council of Knights of the Niger Delta Dioceses and first President-General of the Joint Council of Knights of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

As a philanthropist, he has endowed a professional Chair in Malaria Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, while the Sylvanus Cookey Foundation, established by him, is helping to transform the lives of youths in his home town, Opobo. 

During the Civil War, he served as Commissioner for Special Duties in Ojukwu’s Cabinet and was awarded the Biafra Silver Medal, BSM. He has since received many honours, including Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR; Honourary Doctor of Science, D.Sc; and Doctor of Letters, D.Litt, from the University of Port Harcourt and Anambra State University respectively as well as chieftaincy titles from Upata Kingdom in Rivers State and Ogbor in Mbaise, Imo State. He is a member of the Institute of Doctors of Nigeria. He holds the unique title of Arusibidabo (Inspirational Leader) in Opobo Kingdom.

Other members of the bureau were E. O. Awa, A.D. Yahaya, Haroun Adamu, Ibrahim Halilu, Pascal Bafyau, Oye Oyediran, Tunde Adeniran, Sam E. Oyovbaire, Bala Takaya, O.E. Uya, Sani Zaharadden, Mrs Hilda Aderarasin, Mrs R. Abdullahi, Ola Balogun, Edwin Madunagu and Abdullahi Augie (Executive Secretary). 

On June 27, 1986, different categories of politicians were banned from participating in politics until after the transition programme. 

On March 26, 1987, the Political Bureau submitted its report. It recommended that any Nigerian who hadn’t been previously convicted of a criminal offence be allowed to participate in politics in the 1990s as well as the gradual replacement of the military administration by civilians. 

On July 11, 1987, the White Paper on the Political Bureau report was released. A new date of 1992 was given for the army’s handover. Other items in the White Paper included the retention of Presidentialism and the rejection of any religion as state religion. 

On September 1, 1987, a 46-member review panel was named to review the 1979 Constitution. It was headed by Justice Mohammed Buba Ardo. 

On September 4, 1987, local government election time-table was released. It was scheduled for December 12. Registration was to hold between October 12 and November 1. 

On April 22, 1988, elections were held into the Constituent Assembly, while on April 25, 1988, government’s nominees to the Assembly (117 of them) were announced. To head the Assembly was Justice Anthony Aniagolu. The Assembly was saddled with the job of fashioning a new Constitution for the country. 

On April 1, 1989, the Constituent Assembly concluded sitting in Abuja while General Ibrahim Babangida received the draft on April 5, 1989. 

To be concluded 

•Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.