BY OKEY NDIRIBE
PROMINENT Nigerians,  yesterday, expressed optimism over President Goodluck Jonathan’s establishment of an Advisory Committee for the purpose of convening a National Dialogue.

Among those, who bared their minds on the development were the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and former Secretary General of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO,  Barr. Ayo Opadokun.

While Opadokun cautiously welcomed President Jonathan’s announcement of an Advisory Committee for National Dialogue, Ezeife said he was sure that Jonathan’s conference would achieve a  better result than those organised by the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha and former President Olusegun  Obasanjo.

Said Opadokun:” I think it is a good thing and I believe President Jonathan did it due to  pressure which has left the Federal Government with no room to manoeuvre away from the popular demand for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference. The announcement of an advisory body which was set up for the purpose of advising the President on the modalities for convening the conference is in a way welcome.”

He asked: “Did the announcement come from a sincere heart? Is it a genuine announcement to respond to the popular demand of the Nigerian people to sit down and discuss the national question? Is it an effort to throw something at the people in order to keep them busy while the President does something else? Is it a kind of stop gap measure in order to give the state a breathing space to pursue a different agenda?

” I would like to know whether what the President intends to do would be different from what the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha and former President Olusegun Obasanjo did with their own conferences. It is only when we see the process, modalities and the composition of invitees to the conference that we would know whether the government is serious or not.

In his comments Ezeife said he believed President Jonathan was poised to do what he was expected to do. Said he: “The transformation of this country into a nation that works would begin with restructuring. If the President could achieve this, he would surpass the achievements of all his predecessors.  If he can’t achieve this, then he would go down as having achieved nothing.”

He expressed happiness that the President had at last listened to the agitation of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly and other groups across the country. He said both Northern and Southern leaders have now agreed on the need for a national conference.

Commenting on the composition of the advisory body set up for the national dialogue he said: “Senator Femi Okorounmu who has been appointed as Chairman of the Advisory Committee is very clear headed and knows what Nigerians want.” However, he advised  that the outcome of this effort should be a peoples constitution.

Said he: “One important way of achieving this is through the funding of the conference.  Although, the President will convene the conference, the Advisory Committee should explore the possibility of involving Nigerians at both the individual and corporate levels for the purpose of  funding”.

He wants the new constitution to be fashioned by Nigerians who are not in government so that they would not be affected by the vested interest of those holding public offices.

Said Ezeife: “Given the way things have unfolded so far, convening a National Conference before the year runs out may be the only saving grace for this country.”

He advised the advisory committee to refrain from going to the National Assembly to prevent the process from being frustrated.

“Let the Committee determine how much would be needed to organise this conference including the referendum” he said.

He continued:” The Committee should approach Nigerians for funding instead of going to the National Assembly for that purpose.”

He said he believed Jonathan’s National Conference would not be like that of Abacha, Obasanjo or even Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Said he:” I believe that this would be the first conference where representatives of the various ethnic nationalities would meet without any interference from any quarters.”

He also accused Obasanjo of having  had a hidden agenda when he convened his own conference adding that he wanted a third term.

“Nigerians had clamoured for this conference for a long time. So, Obasanjo only exploited that opportunity for his own selfish interest and when he failed, the project crashed” he said.