Mixed feelings over Jonathan’s national conference

[Mirror]

Just as the Advisory Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan on the convocation of a National Conference begins the task of establishing the modalities for the conference, Nigerians are now united on the need to sit and discuss the issues that have been causing friction or have the potential of causing tension in future.

According to the President, the Advisory Committee is also to design a framework and recommend the structure and mechanism of the process. It is expected to submit its report in a month's time, Nigerians, however, differ as to whether the conference should be sovereign or just national in nature.

What is also causing anxiety on the minds of the citizenry is what would be the outcome of such a meeting now that the elections draw near and, with the benefit of hindsight, whether it would go the way of former national conferences which at the end failed to achieve the desired results.

Another issue that is bothering the minds of the people is the sudden change of mind by President Jonathan who had earlier on November 17, 2011, a few months after assumption of office, set up a 21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional issues and ruled out the convocation of a national conference.

Jonathan then said: "A Constitutional Conference now would be viewed as a distraction from important issues such as security. "They will feel this is another jamboree, where government wants to play music to distract attention instead of facing Boko Haram or economic issues.

"I am determined that our nation devotes more resources, time and energy to the pressing issues of development so that we can progressively reduce the drama of politics, the cycle of group agitation and needless contentions." He also told the Committee to only look into areas where reasonable agreements have been reached and prepare bills to be considered by the National Assembly. That approach, he said, would make the seriousness of government very clear to the people..."

Despite the skepticism on what would be the outcome of the national dialogue, National Coordinator of the Yoruba socio- cultural organisation, Oodua People's Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams told Sunday Mirror that, "I want to commend the action of President Goodluck Jonathan over his decision to convene a National Conference to discuss the issues that have combined to stunt the growth of our country.

"I think we should praise President Jonathan for setting up a committee for a National Conference. I sincerely believe that the conference will proffer solutions to most of the problems that have prevented the country from developing.

I am also convinced that most of the problems that we are going through as a nation can be addressed by the conference "And I am very sure that the conference would go a long way to address most of the problems besetting Nigeria.

At the conference, issues like the Boko Haram, how we would live together and how to move our nation forward would come up for discussion. For instance, the conference would avail all the component units that make up Nigeria to state their cases, why they are angry, their demands and how to actualise the dreams of our founding fathers.

"I sincerely expect this conference to find a lasting solution to the mistrust among the ethnic nationalities The bulk of the problems besetting us have their root in the mistrust among the ethnic nationalities.

So, these ethnic nationalities will have the opportunity to state their cases, hoping that the problems would be addressed." Adams however advised the committee to be very careful with the job they have been given. "They should see this as a national service and a call to serve the fatherland.

More importantly, I want to advise the committee to learn from the mistakes of the National Political Reforms conference set up by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005. "The failure of that reform effort can be traced to some of the mistakes made, either intentionally or unintentionally by the committee. Therefore, this committee should avoid such pitfalls that may lead to its failure. This is a big challenge to members of the committee.

I would advise them to be committed and faithful to their oath of office. Whatever they come out with at the conference would go a long way to affect the future of this country, so let all Nigerians begin to pray for the success of the conference, because the decisions that will come out from the conference will go a long way in healing most of the ills affecting us.

"The committee should also ensure that it does not allow itself to be used by selfish political elements to attain selfish goals. They should not allow political figures outside or within the government to hijack discussions at the conference at the expense of the people, as doing this would definitely lead to the failure of this great task before them. "For the president, let me seize this opportunity to advise him to ensure that since he has found enough courage to set up this committee, he should also be courageous enough to ensure that he does not allow his own personal desire to influence whatever decision that would be taken at the conference.

As we approach the 2015 general election, let the president be honest enough to differentiate his ambition from the activities of the committee. We should remember that the alleged third term of President Obasanjo played a huge part in the failure of the national political reform conference he convened.

"Let President Jonathan know that this is an opportunity for him to write his name in the sands of time and make himself a hero in the history of Nigeria. The success or otherwise of this conference would go a long way in ensuring this, and I call on the president to take the path of honour by allowing the committee do its job."

Also speaking, the former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, said he was one of those in support of the convocation of a national conference and that he was happy with the decision of the president on the matter. "I hope the step taken by President Jonathan is a welcome development and I hope it will go a long way in resolving some of the issues that have been causing conflict in the country. It is good for us as a nation to sit down and know the direction the country should move to. It is the necessary things to do at this time. This is what I have been calling for, a national conference, not a sovereign national conference because they are two different things.

We need to sit down and discuss like a family." On his part, Lagos human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, told Sunday Mirror that though he was not opposed to Nigerians sitting down and discussing or dialoguing, such a conference was not going to take the country anywhere. "As far as I am concerned, it is not going to take us anywhere.

It is just an idea that will make Nigerians think that the government is busy. What the people that are calling for a national conference are calling for is a conference that will be sovereign, not a talk shop. We have done talk shops in the past without any results and I don't see any sign that this will be different," he stated. He said he was afraid that the motive may not be right.

Also speaking with Sunday Mirror, a chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the decision of President Jonathan to convene a national conference is a positive step. He said the decision has shown that the president meant well for the nation. Adebanjo commended him for picking Dr Okurounmu as the chairman of the Advisory Committee on the group.

"For him to have picked one of those who have been agitating for national conference as the chairman of the Advisory Committee goes a long way to show the president is sincere. I give him kudos for this," Adebanjo added. Renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, said "the presidential initiative is a positive move and consistent with the yearnings of the time.

"I view it very positively, given the fact that the federal group, by this I mean the Presidency and the National Assembly, are always very reluctant to do anything concerning the sovereign national conference because they would think it would take authority from them.

"I am encouraged by what the president has said because, for me, the way forward for this country is a national conference and I see it as a breakthrough of sorts and we just have to give it the momentum." Last Tuesday, President Jonathan in a nationwide broadcast to mark the 53rd anniversary of the country's independence announced the composition of an Advisory Committee on National Conference.

In what appeared to be Jonathan's endorsement of the convocation of a national dialogue, he also named the members of the committee to include Dr Femi Okurounmu as the chairman; Dr Akilu Indabawa (secretary) while other members are Profs. George Obiozor and Ben Nwabueze; 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 committee, according to Jonathan, will establish the modalities for the conference, aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity. He said the committee would also design a framework and recommend the form, structure and mechanism of the process while urging it to submit its report in a month's time. The President said the nation would be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the dialogue.

He further 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 President urged Nigerians to remain committed to building a strong, united, progressive and prosperous nation in spite of the present challenges. 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.

The committee is mandated to consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed dialogue.

It is further charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue will be determined; to advise on the following: a time frame for the conference, a legal framework for the national dialogue, legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the conference into the constitution and laws of the nation.

The committee is to also counsel government on any other matter that may be related or incidental to the proposed conference.

Source: Mixed feelings over Jonathan's national conference

[Folami David]

There will always be mixed feelings when it comes to things like this so I'm not surprised.
Let's see how it'll pan out at the end of the day!