The Presidency’s readiness to convene the much-talked -about convocation of a national conference has manifested in the formation of the national dialogue committee as part of the bid to enhance the country’s national integration and collective socio-political development.
But the new development did not come without divergent opinions from the members of the public for its convention.
However, a former university teacher and a senator (between 1999 and 2003), Dr. Femi Okurounmu has been named as its chairperson.
According to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, other members include: Prof George Obiozor, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Sen. Timothy Adudu, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), Prof. Funke Adebayo, Mrs Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alh. Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello and Mr. Tony Uranta and Dr. Akilu Indabawa who has been named as the secretary of the committee
President Goodluck Jonathan revealed during his the 53rd Independence Anniversary broadcast by the current Administration’s resolve to take “cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country” engendered the creation of the committee to kick start the process.
“I am an advocate of dialogue. When there are issues that stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.
“In demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward, I have decided to set up an Advisory Committee whose mandate is to establish the modalities for a National Dialogue or Conference.
Jonathan said the committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said in Abuja that the President’s action is in tune with the Senate’s position on the national dialogue.
He noted that this is because the senate had earlier on being advocating for a national conference.
But, Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Cross River State, Cletus Obun said the President is incompetent to convoke a conference, hence, he dismissed the proposed national conference.
“He is not in a position to call for a conference because his reasons will not be altruistic. It is no longer possible, credibility has departed from him.
Obun noted in an interview that it is not the President’s function to convene a national conference but rather the function of the National Assembly to handle such a task.
“He has demonstrated so much bad faith and greed and personal interest that his convocation of a conference of any nature to discourse Nigeria cannot be taken seriously,” Obun opposed.
Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Itse Sagay, described it as an opportunity for the political class has begun to reason with well-meaning Nigerians who have been agitating for national dialogue.
“It is a weaker type of vehicle than the rest of us want. We are talking of sovereign national conference but it is something better than nothing.
He noted that the political office holders at federal level are always vehemently opposed to national conference or dialogue because they feel it will lead to true federalism which will lead to the transfer of some powers from the federal to the states.
“And they feel they are the custodians of that federal powers which will be transferred. And so, they oppose it forgetting that all of them are there in Abuja temporarily and will end up in their states sooner or later,” Sagay said.
On his part, National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, and vibrant activist, Yinka Odumakin insisted that the convocation of a sovereign national conference is the only way to keep Nigeria beyond 2015.
Hence, Odumakin urge “all well-meaning Nigerians to support the President’s move” towards national integration.
Also, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, said this Kaduna said his group would support any dialogue that would bring about the strengthening of the Nigeria Project.
The Pan-Northern socio-political organisation, he said has made it clear long ago that it is not opposed to any national dialogue that can calm nerves and bring about the strengthening of the Nigeria project, provided such national dialogue would not take the form of a Sovereign National Conference.
“This is because a sovereign national conference amounts to vote of no confidence on our democracy and its institutions, which nobody or group has the right to do”, ACF said.
Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dozie Ikedife, commended the presidents Jonathan’s as he maintained that the “basis of co-existence in Nigeria needs to be re-defined”.
Besides, Ikedife suggested that there should not be a “no go area” in the terms of reference for the dialogue.
He noted that “everything must be discussed” as he insisted that a dialogue would not be meaningful where there are no go areas.
“We should look at the composition of the federation. In my own opinion I think we should have a system where the federal controls currency, military and national police.
“The units or if you like you call them states should be made more functional. I think we should reduce the present number of states to six,” Ikedife advised.
The panel, which is to be inaugurated by the President next Monday, is set to focus on the following framework:
•consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue/conference;
•make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue/conference;
•make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined;
•advise on a timeframe for the national dialogue/conference;
•advise government on a legal framework for the national dialogue/conference;
•advise government on legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/ conference into the constitution and laws of the nation; and to
•advise government on any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national dialogue/conference.”
However, the president said it is expected that the committee submits its report in one month, after which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the Dialogue.
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