. Okurounmu heads advisory committee . Nigeria won't fail under me –President . ACF: We'll support dialogue, only if... . Ohanaeze wants equal representation
President Goodluck Jonathan appeared to have endorsed the convocation of a National Conference yesterday with the setting up of an advisory committee headed by Senator Femi Okurounmu.
The committee will establish the modalities for the conference aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity. President Jonathan in a nationwide address to mark the 53rd independence anniversary also named Dr. Akilu Indabawa as the Secretary of the committee.
He said that the committee would also design a framework and recommend the form, structure and mechanism of the process.
The President, who said the full membership of the committee would soon be made public, also charged the committee to submit its report in one month.
After this, he said, the nation would be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the dialogue. He explained that the setting up of the committee demonstrated his avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward.
Jonathan said: "Our administration has taken cognisance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue on the future of our beloved country.
"When there are issues that constantly 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.
"The committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process."
The President urged Nigerians to remain committed to building a strong, united, progressive and prosperous nation in spite of present challenges. President Jonathan noted that Nigeria was still a "work in progress", saying that the citizens were challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles confronting the nation.
"If we look back over the years, we can confidently say that there is every reason to celebrate. The past 53 years have seen Nigeria evolve on an epic scale," he said.
He assured that "Nigeria would not fail" under his leadership, stressing that he was mindful of the weight of public expectation to find solutions to the challenges confronting the nation, considering the free and sacred mandate given to his government.
"I have been consistently mindful of the weight of public expectation to find solutions to the challenges that confront us because the mandate we have is a free and sacred one.
"In all that I have done, I have been guided by this sacred obligation to work hard for the good of Nigeria and to make life better for Nigerians. I want to assure everyone that Nigeria, under my leadership, will not fail.
"This is no time for the harmful clutches of parochial sentiments and the politics of bitterness, impunity, arrogance and unhelpful indiscipline. We must stand as one with absolute commitment and resolve to resist any force that threatens us and the sanctity of our union," he added.
According to him, "Our politics should be an art of patriotic labour and selfless service to the community, particularly by the political elite who are placed in positions of great trust and responsibility. Politics has its own high moral principles which abhor distracting and divisive rhetoric.
"As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility, and the next generation. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition.
"My clarion call, there fore, on this special day, is that we should begin to align our political utterances and conduct solely to the nobler passions that unite our people. Politicians do not make a nation, ordinary folks do.
"Our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens. These are the teachers and men and women in academics who inculcate the knowledge and wisdom that transform into tomorrow's wealth; the traders and market women who tend to our everyday needs; the farmers whose labour feeds the nation; the artisans whose work ensures that our homesteads are well maintained; the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, bankers, engineers, and other professionals who add value to our lives; the sportsmen and women and those in the creative industry who bring honour and fame to our nation.
"And the men and women of our armed forces and security services who toil day and night so that you and I may live in a safe and secure nation. "It is the individual and collective heroism of these regular folks that has placed our nation on the path of greatness.
Politics and politicians sometimes distract the people and create unnecessary tension." The President added that history had proven that nations take time to evolve, stressing that "we should rejoice in our nation's democracy because it enabled us to be united by our differences, not destroyed by them." The President stressed that "there is no more crucial time for us to be united than now.
The threats we face may be real and immediate. But we are not alone in this regard. It is a difficult season for much of the world: industrialised or developing; rich or poor.
What matters are the lessons we learn, the wisdom we demonstrate and the victories we snatch from the jaws of possible defeat. "This is a time to pull together behind the national cause: the cause of our freedom and our future.
We must rekindle the spirit of Nigeria to ensure that every democrat and every lover of peace in this great nation continues to live in a free, peaceful and secure Nigeria," President Jonathan said. He reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to bring the war against domestic terrorism to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible.
"My heart goes out to the families of all those who have fallen victims of these dastardly acts. Our administration will not rest until every Nigerian is free from the oppression of terrorism. I reassure you that no cost will be spared, no idea will be ignored and no resource will be left untapped in the quest to enable our people live without fear.
"I implore every Nigerian – wherever you are, whatever language you speak, whatever your religious persuasion, whichever political party you support – let us join together to fight this evil of extremism," he said.
On the 2015 general elections, the President said: "As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility and the next generation, not the next election. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition.
"We must stand as one, with absolute commitment and resolve to resist any force that threatens us and the sanctity of our union. "If we look back over the years, we can confidently say that there is every reason to celebrate.
The past 53 years have seen Nigeria evolve on an epic scale. "I want to thank all our country men and women who have stood by this administration in the midst of mounting challenges and enormous expectations.
"I recognise that it is not easy to keep believing in the possibilities of our greatness when our faith is constantly challenged. But let me assure you that, if we do not despair, we shall reap the reward of our labour.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan last night announced the membership of the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue. He also approved the terms of reference of the committee.
In a statement issued in Abuja last night and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the President named Profs. George Obiozor and Ben Nwabueze as members.
Others are Senator Khairat Gwadabe, Col. Tony Nyiam (Rtd), Prof. Funke Adebayo, Dr. (Mrs) Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Senator Timothy Adudu, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alhaji Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello and Mr. Tony Uranta. The president had earlier named Dr. Femi Okunrounmu and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The committee is mandated to consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue/conference.
The committee is to also make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue/ conference.
Others are to make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined; to advise on a timeframe for the national dialogue/ conference; to advise government on a legal framework for the national dialogue/ conference; to 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.
The committee is to also advise government on any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national dialogue/ conference.
As earlier indicated by the president, the Committee shall have one month within which to conclude its assignment and it will be inaugurated by the President at the State House next Monday.
Source: Finally, Jonathan agrees to national conference (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/finally-jonathan-agrees-to-national-conference/)