NATIONAL CONFAB: NO ‘NO-GO AREAS’ - JONATHAN •Says it’ll not break Nigeria •We’ll not let Nigerians down - Okurounmu

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given the presidential advisory committee on the proposed national conference the freedom to choose names for itself and for the conference, while he also gave the committee free hands on  areas to be discussed at the conference.
Inaugurating the committee in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, the president described the conference as a Nigerian project and a child of necessity, which would provide a genuine platform to resolve long standing impediments and strengthen the unity of the nation.
“Firstly, let me emphasise that this is a national project, a sincere and fundamental undertaking aimed at realistically examining and genuinely resolving longstanding impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development as a truly united nation,” he said.
Jonathan noted that he was initially skeptical about the need for dialogue over the socio-political challenges, in view of several conferences held in the past, adding that his skepticism was, however, with the nomenclature, taking into cognisance existing democratic structures that were products of the will of the people.
“However, we are in a democracy and in a democracy; elected leaders govern at the behest of the citizenry. As challenges emerge, season after season, leaders must respond with best available strategies to ensure that the ship of state remains undeterred in its voyage,” he said.
The president, who recalled that the 2005 National Political Reform Conference produced a number of key recommendations that were sent to the Fifth Assembly but were not perfected, also said he had reasoned in 2010 that the outstanding recommendations from the 2005 conference be revisited.
Further justifying the need for the conference, even with the existence of democratic structures, Jonathan said “the concept of participatory democracy is such that even after the people have given their representatives the mandate to make laws and act on their behalf, there is also a space for the governed to make further input into the political processes, without undermining the authority of the statutory bodies.”
He allayed the fears that the conference would call the integrity of the country into question, adding that “this national discourse will strengthen our union and address issues that are often on the front burner, and are too frequently ignored.”
Jonathan, who said he had deliberately used different terms to describe the committee and the conference because he wanted the committee to select its own nomenclature, admonished it to consult widely before sitting down to develop the framework that would guide and guard the proceedings of the discussions.
In his remarks, chairman of the committee, Dr Femi Okurounmu, commended President Jonathan for setting up the committee, noting that it was a demonstration of sincerity and commitment that the president did not the committee a set of “no-go areas.”
According to him, Jonathan’s sincerity and commitment were “further buttressed by the fact that he has not established any so called ‘no-go areas’  for his committee, thus opening up for discourse, all aspects of our present constitution and national life.”
He promised that the committee would not let Nigerians down, hoping that with the conclusion of the assignment and the national conference that would follow, “even those who were once skeptical and critical of the idea of a national conference will have become persuaded of its merits and benefits to our nation.”
Speaking with newsmen after the inauguration, Okurounmu expressed surprise at the statement credited to former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, criticising the conference, saying that he (Tinubu) must have been misquoted.
Full text of the president’s speech
Being remarks by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, on the occasion of the inauguration of the National Advisory Committee on National Conference/Dialogue, held at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday
PROTOCOLS
Today, we are taking historic and concrete steps that will further strengthen our understanding, expand the frontiers of our inclusiveness and deepen our bond as one people under God.
In my address to the Nation on the occasion of our 53rd Independence and Golden Anniversary as a Republic, I announced that in response to the yearnings of our people, we had decided to take on the responsibility of decisively and genuinely exploring the option of a national conversation.
In furtherance of this objective, government announced the names of some Nigerians, with wide experience from various disciplines, to form membership of an Advisory Committee to facilitate a most acceptable process that will bring our aspirations to fruition. Our gathering here today is to formally inaugurate this child of necessity, the Advisory Committee to midwife this conversation.
Permit me to very quickly review the foundational principles that drive our action, and also address a few matters arising. Firstly, let me emphasise that this is a national project, a sincere and fundamental undertaking, aimed at realistically examining and genuinely resolving, longstanding impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development as a truly united nation.
There is a view by some of our people that we do not need to sit together to dialogue over the socio-political challenges facing our country. Some believe that because we have held several conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one. I was one of those who exhibited scepticism on the need for another conference or dialogue. My scepticism was borne out of the nomenclature of such a conference, taking into cognisance existing democratic structures that were products of the will of the people.
However, we are in a democracy and in a democracy, elected leaders govern at the behest of the citizenry. As challenges emerge, season after season, leaders must respond with best available strategies to ensure that the ship of state remains undeterred in its voyage.
Nations rise to the challenges that each epoch presents. It is imperative, therefore, that in our march to nationhood, we have to be dynamic in our approach and response to the problems, even as we seek solutions to them. We cannot proffer yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let us remind ourselves of the gains from previous conferences and dialogues. The conferences that were held before 1960 were designed to produce a political system and a roadmap to Nigeria’s independence.
The Constitutional Conference of 1957 in London, for example, effectively prepared Nigeria for Independence. The Eastern and Western regions were granted self-government in 1957, while the Northern region got its own in 1959. The office of the Prime Minister was created and it was also decided that the Federal Legislature would be Bi-cameral.
Furthermore, the Constituent Assembly of 1978 gave us the 1979 Constitution and also created the current presidential system with its attendant checks and balances and fundamental human rights provisions. The 1999 Constitution we operate today is a successor to the 1979 Constitution and records show that the 1999 Constitution also benefited from reports and recommendations arising from the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
Although not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the idea of the current six geo-political zones that have become one of the avenues for equitable distribution of projects and public offices in Nigeria was also a product of dialogue that emerged from the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
The 2005 National Political Reform Conference produced a number of key recommendations that were sent to the fifth Assembly, which were, however, not perfected. In 2010, I reasoned that the outstanding recommendations from the 2005 Conference be revisited.
It was my view that government is a continuum and that we must find ways to strengthen the foundation of our union. I proceeded to set up the Justice Alpha Belgore Committee with a mandate to review the report for possible implementation, especially the areas where there was a common agreement. The committee worked hard and came out with its report that included a number of bills, which were forwarded to the National Assembly.
We believe that these bills will form key components of the ongoing Constitutional Review by the National Assembly.
Clearly, every dialogue adds something valuable to our evolving nation. The urgency of a national conversation in the present, therefore, need not be over emphasised.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we continue to strive to build a strong and virile nation, especially in the midst of agitations and tensions, we cannot deny the fact that sitting down to talk is one right step in calming down tensions and channelling our grievances, misgivings and suggestions into more positive use for the good of our country.
Let me use this opportunity to thank the Senate President, and the leadership and members of the National Assembly for the support they have given to this important national project.
The concept of participatory democracy is such that, even after the people have given their representatives the mandate to make laws and act on their behalf, there is also a space for the governed to make further input into the political processes, without undermining the authority of the statutory bodies. Sovereignty continues to be with the people, even as the people evolve strategies and tactics to strengthen its foundation for the benefit of successor generations.
It is this sort of collaboration between the people and established institutions of government that will allow for a robust outcome that leads to greater understanding and a more cohesive and inclusive union. For me, there is no alternative to inclusivity, equity and justice in a modern democratic state.
I will, therefore, like to allay the fears of those who think the conference will call the integrity of Nigeria into question. This national discourse will strengthen our union and address issues that are often on the front burner, and are too frequently ignored.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear committee members, this is a serious task, and history beckons on you not to disappoint our people. I
want to charge you to consult widely before sitting down to develop the framework that will guide and guard the proceedings of the discussions.
In the task before you, no voice is too small and no opinion is irrelevant. Thus, the views of the sceptics and those of the enthusiasts must be accommodated as you formulate this all important framework. This conversation is a people’s conversation and I urge you to formulate an all-inclusive process that protects the people’s interest.
Let me also urge the Advisory Committee not only to be alive to the expectations of our people, but to bear in mind that what we desire is what can work for the good of our people and country.  The goal is to bequeath a better and a greater Nigeria to the present and the generation that is to come.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have wasted too much time and resources bickering over sectional versions of what define reality. This is an open-ended luxury we can no longer afford. Let us move forward, with honest conviction and patriotic courage, to strengthen this Republic, and get it to work better and brighter, for all of us, to the glory of God.
On this note, I hereby inaugurate the National Advisory Committee on this significant national assignment and give the committee six weeks to submit its report. I thank you for accepting to serve and I wish you the very best of wisdom in this very important call to duty.
Congratulations. I thank you.
...Abdulsalami, Agbakoba, back proposed conference
From Leon Usigbe and Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare
FORMER head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has thrown his weight behind the proposed national conference and the forthcoming centenary celebrations
In a chat with State House correspondents, shortly after making his presentation to President Goodluck Jonathan as the board chairman of the proposed Centenary City, he said “it is better to jaw jaw than to war war.”
He noted that contrary to the belief some in some quarters, the country had reasons to celebrate its centenary in 2014.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba, lauded the idea as timely, stating that it was capable of moving the country forward.
“What is important at this stage is the utilisation of the limited platform offered by President Jonathan to engage Nigerians in very robust discussions on the constitution and without ‘no-go area’ issues.
“Though there are challenges about participation, my suggestion is that participants may be drawn from ethnic nationalities and, at least, the six basic estates of the realm, namely the executive, legislature, judiciary, media, civil society and organised business.
“I have defined civil society in a very broad sense to include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious and traditional institutions and, of course, labour, youth and women.
However, another SAN, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams, backed the former governor of Lagos State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, who stated that the proposed national conference was ill-timed.
Rotimi-Williams, in an interview, said that though President Jonathan meant well for Nigeria by mooting the idea of the conference, he argued that the way they were going about the process may not augur well for the country.
“I agree with Tinubu’s position. He (Tinubu) may not be a lawyer, but he is talking sense. And I am not surprised that Professor (Ben) Nwabueze has pulled out. It is journey from nowhere to nowhere. I agree in toto with Tinubu that the whole thing is bound to fail.
“It is unfortunate. I know the president is a sincere man who means well for this country, but the way his advisers have gone about this issue is wrong. People should come out and let him know that though he meant well for the country, the setting up of a committee to advise him on constitutional conference without any agenda is wrong,” he said.