Guardian National Confab:Northern govs, senator, lawyers differ on dialogue THURSDAY, 03 OCTOBER 2013 00:00 FROM JOHN OGIJI (MINNA), ABIODUN FAGBEMI (ILORIN) AND ALEMMA-OZIORUVA ALIU (BENIN CITY) NEWS -NATIONAL MIXED reactions from political office holders and leading professionals in the country have continued to greet the national conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan in his Independence Day broadcast of Tuesday. Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu said that the 19 Northern states have thrown their weight behind the confab. Aliyu said the ‘North will not be afraid of the conference, but will rather go confidently to the conference and discuss matters affecting Nigeria with other Nigerians.’ “No matter the nature of the dialogue, the bottom line will be what type of Nigeria we want. We welcome this desire for national dialogue.” Aliyu commended the state Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for standing behind him despite his opposition against the national leadership of the party, saying that the reason behind their (G7 Governors) struggle was to reform the party for better performance. The governor’s commendation follows the recent declaration by the party in the state during a stakeholders meeting in Minna that the party is solidly behind him in all his decisions both at the federal and state levels. Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Enagi while addressing the supporters in Minna at the meeting, said as the leader of the party in the state, all the actions of the governor has the backing of the party and that the party in the state is ready to sink with him. But, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Domingo Obende yesterday opposed the national conference, saying the proposed dialogue was “just to keep Nigerians busy.” In a chat with journalists where he highlighted some of his achievements in the Senate so far which he said included sponsorship and co-sponsorship of at least 14 bills in the fourth Senate, creation and procurement of employment and various projects scattered across the six local government councils that make up the district, Obende said the proposed dialogue may never be completed until next elections are held. “Sometimes, a lot of things that happens come with an agenda I have always said that the people that will sit down to draft the agenda of a meeting know exactly why the meeting is being held. As far as I am concerned, I don’t see anything visible that is going to come out of it. If we want to have a sovereign national conference, let us have it, if it is a national conference that we are going to nominate people or government will select people to go debate the situation of Nigeria, obviously we can’t get result that is going to be people friendly that is my belief. It can never be people friendly because they have an agenda and it is that agenda that will be driven into the mind of the committee. I don’t think Nigerians should be treated in this manner. If we want to hit the nail on the head, let Nigerians sit down and discuss the future. We have always pronounced, we have always believed that Nigeria cannot break yes there are skirmishes here and there. In a disparate tones, however, two Kwara-based legal luminaries: Olusola Bayeshea (SAN) and Yusuf Ola Olu Ali (SAN) yesterday gave their opinions in their reactions to Tuesday’s announcement of national dialogue. In separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin, Ali said the development remained a normal occurrence under a virile democracy but Bayeshea said it would serve the nation no good purposes. According to Ali while expressing support for the National Dialogue Advisory Committee headed by Chief Femi Okunrounmu as set up by President Goodluck Jonathan,” as long as it’s not going to be another jamboree, it is good. “Members of the same family at a point in their lives do critical review of their relationship so there is nothing wrong in it as long as it is not turned to another jamboree.” For Bayeshea, “to be honest I don’t know what the National Conference will achieve in Nigeria of today. Instead I believe that what we need in Nigeria is good leadership that will not be corrupt but have enough will to lead us to the next level. “If one may ask now, how do we pick the representatives to the conference? Will it be by election? If it is then our votes no longer count. If it by selection, then I think the government will only pick those who will go there and carry out the government’s agenda. Again don’t forget that our National Assembly members are just there to swell up their pockets.” He challenged the proponents of the conference to promptly produce their agenda at the conference and couch it in such a way that it would halt corruption, create job opportunities and prevent violence in Nigeria, “before their agitation could be justifiable.” Dialogue ill-timed, says group From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Nigeria Voters Assembly, yesterday faulted the proposed national conference, saying it is ill-timed and a ploy for tenure elongation. According to its National President, Moshood Erubami, the group alleged that the conference was aimed at stopping the progressive movement from taking over power from the current political hawks masquerading as politicians who are bent on capturing political power for another four years through the backdoor. Erubami said, “If a national conference is now being planned in the last quarter of the third year, when will the conference proper take place? Shall we not be forced into shifting elections and advertently play into the tenure elongation strategy in the PDP in 2015? “Ordinarily, the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to accept and set up a planning committee for the convocation of a national conference sounds good, but coming at this time in the tenure of the President makes it look suspicious”, while also faulting the choice of Senator Femi Okunrounmu as the conference head. Erubami said his choice sends a strong signal that Nigeria cannot get it right, adding “the conference must be sovereign and its proceedings must not be subjected to the tinkering of any other committee. Whatever must have been deliberated and decided upon at such conference must be final and can only be formally adopted by a referendum of the people”. NACOMYO hopefulon confab From Charles Coffie Gyamfi (Abeokuta) THE planned national conference announced by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday has been described as the best option towards addressing the ethnic, religious and political violence threatening the stability of the country. National Council for Muslim Youths Organisation, (NACOMYO), which expressed this view in Abeokuta yesterday insisted that the government’s decision demonstrates its proactive and ingenuity in ensuring endurable peace in the country. The organisation’s National President, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, described the initiative as a “presidential birthday gift aimed at ensuring corporate existence of the country”, adding “the dialogue and the process, if genuinely undertaken and pursued, will engender peaceful co-existence, inter-religious harmony, good neighbourliness, ethno-religious tolerance and harmonious living of all Nigerians,” noting “all these will enhance good governance and smooth transition in 2015.” Akintunde commended the composition of the National Conference Committee members who, he said, comprised men of integrity, ethnic balanced, urging them to eschew sentiments in their deliberations so as to make decisions that would be in the best interest of the people. Educationist counsels youth on loyalty to country By Tolulope Okunlola YOUTH, parents and guardians have been charged to use the occasion of Nigeria’s 53rd Independence anniversary to renew their loyalty and commitment to the nation. Proprietress of CEDEC International Schools, Mrs. Ijeoma Pauline Unachukwu gave the advice at the dinner party for parents and guardians to mark the occasion in Lagos. Unachukwu used the opportunity to express appreciation to parents and guardians for their kindness and partnership in the very important responsibility of running the school. “It thrills my heart when I sit back to think of the types of parents and teachers I have in this journey, I thank God for their support of which the school received.” President of the occasion, Aneke Paulson said that the occasion of our country’s 53rd Independence Day anniversary is perhaps a season of mixed blessings, depending on which side of perspectives we see things from. “As a leader, I am proud to be a Nigerian and I believe that the nation will certainly reach the most unthinkable height if we persevere notwithstanding the issue rocking our political clime and economy today.” He, however, expressed optimism that issues of power fluctuation and insecurity will soon be a thing of the past because the government is making all effort to find solution to them.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:16:39 +0000
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