By OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — THE Yoruba socio-cultural group,  Afenifere,  yesterday, said it would amount to political suicide if the 2015 general elections were held without the convocation of a National Conference.

The group spoke in Ibadan through its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin at a public presentation of a book entitled, ‘My Time in the Charging Cloud: An Anthology on African Students’ Movement Struggle, Social Justice, Democracy and Good Governance,’ written by Oludare Ogunlana.

According to him: “It is evident that unless the National Conference is organised, it would be difficult to have a successful election.”

He lamented that some of the nation’s leaders were shameless and despite the fact that they did not make any positive impact while they were in power, it was abnormal to blame the whole problems of the country on one person.

Odumakin contended that, “we are not jealously guarding the hard-won democracy with the way some leaders are taking the matter.”

Justifying his stance for a National Conference, Odumakin alluded to Yugoslavia and Ethiopia, noting that while Yugoslavia ignored the call for such conference and had now become history, Ethiopia on the other hand heeded the call and had remained a united country till today.

Speaking, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku said over 16,000 Niger Delta militants had been sent to schools.

Kuku, who was represented by Mr. Henry Ugbolue, commended the efforts of President Jonathan on Niger Delta, noting the youths were very grateful to Mr. President for his gesture.

He said, “politics, being a game of numbers deserves participation. All of us need to be involved to ensure that we bring about the country of our dream.

“We can’t stay aloof and expect things will get better; we don’t have any other place we can call our home.”