Mixed Reaction Trails FG's National Conference Programme

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the announcement of President Goodluck Jonathan in setting up an advisory committee to fashion out the scope of the prposed National conference.

Although the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the INC and the PDP factions in their separate reactions did not give conditions for  supporting  dialogue, the ACF did.

The ACF advised  against the dialogue taking the  form of a  Sovereign National Conference.

The  ACF  National Publicity Secretary,   Mr. Anthony Sani, told  one of our correspondents in Kaduna,   that an SNC would  amount to a vote of no confidence in  the nation’s democracy and its institutions.

He added that the  forum  had nothing  much to say at “this formative stage of the committee  until when the name, content, shape and scope of the dialogue are  made public.”

Sani said,  “When I am asked to react to Mr President’s decision to set up a committee on how to organise a national dialogue as to the appropriate name, scope, content and direction, I begin to wonder what to say.

“You would note that ACF has made it clear that it is not opposed to a national dialogue so long as the aim is to strengthen the unity and  diversity of this country, since the concept of nationhood presupposes that the people can come together and unleash their synergy by living up to collective challenges for public good, provided such a dialogue is not in the form of SNC  that amounts to  a vote of no confidence in our democracy and its institutions, which no group has the right to do.”

Both  Afenifere  and Ohanaeze  Ndigbo said  they were ready to make submissions to the committee once invited.

  Afenifere advised that  the proposed national dialogue should focus on true federalism so that the issue of  allocation of the country’s resources  could be well  tackled.

Its Secretary,  Chief Seinde Arogbofa, in an interview with one of our correspondents,  said, “We don’t have to pre-empt the terms of reference of the committee. We must appreciate the head of state for allowing Nigerians to talk about our problems.

“We should be talking about issues of security, youth unemployment and the right structure. We believe that with a true federal system, all other things will automatically fall into place. The issue of resources will be taken care of if we have the right federal structure.”

  The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, told one of our correspondents   that   “all peace-loving Nigerians must commend”  Jonathan for the initiative.

 He said, “He has pulled Nigeria back from the brink. Jonathan has saved Nigeria by choosing a forum for talking rather than shooting. It is a welcome deviation from the past when former Presidents were foot-dragging on the issue.

 “Let us restart our association envisaged in the 1914 amalgamation statement. Let us kick- start the system so that all Nigerians can very truthfully say they are Nigerians.”

 The Ohanaeze secretary general said the  national conference  would  “ bring an end to the abracadabra  in the country since 1966,” since it would give the  people  the opportunity to  “discuss and say how we are to relate with one another.”

Also, the INC advised that the national conference should be used as an opportunity to discuss all the problems affecting the unity of the country.

The spokesman  for the congress,   Mr. Victor Borubo,  said there should be no limitations to what should be discussed when  the national dialogue   eventually holds.

He said that resource control, devolution of power, structure of the country and issues on the  Exclusive and Residual lists  should  be among the  things  that should be discussed at the conference.

 Borubo added, “There should be no limitation to what should be discussed at the conference as we expect those to represent Nigerians to discuss devolution of power, structure of the country, resource control and issues on the exclusive and residual list.

The  NLC, through its    Secretary-General, Mr. Chris Uyot, said,    “We applaud the President  for seeing the need for a conference because we believe in participatory and inclusive government.

“Any form of dialogue or discussion points to a positive and an inclusive government and we support it. We think it is a good idea which should be encouraged.”

Also, the  Bamanga Tukur-led  PDP  said  the  President had through the decision  demonstrated that he derived his mandate from Nigerians.

It  hailed the President for anchoring the theme of  the  independence  day broadcast on the road map to a secure future for the nation, which it said was not only unique  but  an eloquent expression of his determination to bequeath a transformed Nigeria.

The party, in  a statement by  its  National Publicity Secretary  , Chief Olisa Metuh,   said by taking a definite stand on  national dialogue and setting up a committee led by Sen. Femi Okurounmu to fashion out the structure and modalities for the conference, the President has shown he is a listening leader.

The statement reads in part, “Nigerians listened to their President as he humbly relegated accomplishments and beating of the chest. We saw the President assuming the place of an ordinary Nigerian, in his pains, fears and uncertainty about the future.  This is very commendable.

“We are pleased that the President listens and leaves Nigerians in no doubt that their opinions matter.

Also, the New PDP led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje,  said there should no-go areas in the work of the committee.

In  a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze,    said, “We see the clamour for a national dialogue as timely and appropriate as there is an urgent need for Nigerians to come together and discuss matters affecting them as well as the way forward.

“We, therefore, welcome Mr. President’s announcement in his Independence Day broadcast about the establishment of a committee to advise him on the modalities for the holding of the conference,” the New PDP said.