I Will Raise The Alarm Bell When Neccessary At Natl Confab..Tunde Bakare

The Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, said he would not hesitate to alert Nigerians if he discovers that the forthcoming National Conference not be different from other conferences held in the past.

“By the grace of God, I will wait to see the convocation or the inauguration of that conference, read and listen to Mr. President, read his body language and if I perceive that the conference is going to be a waste of my time or a waste of time of any of the delegates, I will blow the whistle,” he said.

 It will be recalled that some Nigerians, especially those from the opposition parties, have argued that the conference is a distraction by the Federal Government because of its closeness to the 2015 general elections.

 In an interview with Saturday Independent, Bakare, who has been nominated by Ogun state government as one of the delegates to represent the South- West geo-political zone urged Nigerians to work toward the success of the conference instead of focusing on the 2015 elections.

 According to him, the conference provides a veritable opportunity for Nigerians to return to dialogue table and come up with resolutions that would right the wrongs of the past and restore Nigeria to the path of greatness.

 Bakare who was the Vice-Presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general elections, said that the proposed national conference must be made a people-driven constitutional conference where the defects in the nation’s federal structure could be corrected in a new constitution that truly belonged to the people.

“Truth be told, I think we have the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past, to think critically of how to save our nation from disintegration. And if we do not seize this opportunity with both hands and let the conference itself be people driven and that the reason we are there is the ultimate interest and benefit of the people of this country.

“If we go there with elitist idea of how to continue to live in our secured land of prosperity while the rest of Nigerians dwell in the quick sand of poverty, then we are already pushing Nigeria to disintegration but a place where the rage of the poor can consume the rich, the wealthy, the elite and the upper class,” he said.

 On the statement credited to President Jonathan that the resolutions of the conference will be sent to the National Assembly, Bakare said “we are going to find out whether the voice of the people is the highest law or whether those who are appointed, selected or elected by the people will overrule what majority of Nigerians will do.”

While expressing optimism that the resolutions made at the conference will not be jettisoned, he said majority of those participating in the national conference are men of honour who cannot be bought with money, but are driven with a passion to bring about a thorough and positive change for the nation.

 According to him, anyone who tries to toy with the resolution made at the conference “will be toying with his own personal destiny.

“By the grace of God, I don’t think all those going to that conference now as delegates are people who are desperately looking for job. Is it the likes of Justice Kutigi or Professor Bolaji Akinyemi that you want to call for a job or tell them this is what we want you to go and say there?

“I respect such men and I know they are respectable. And some of us are honourable to know that we are not seeking for job. If we are going there to midwife change for our nation, it will be seen that it is done thoroughly.