DELEGATES to the on- going National conference yesterday began discussions on the inaugural speech of President Goodluck Jonathan with the unity of the country, restructuring and true federalism in the front burner.

Conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi was stretched yesterday as delegates saw the other side of the normally convivial chairman over what was seen as the unruly effort by delegates to get his attention to be recognized at the ongoing National Conference.

Nothing, it’s just a talk-shop. We must realise that it’s a talk-shop. It’s functions are merely deliberative and advisory. So, there is no harm in talking. If they talk for three months, something good may come out of it but, certainly, not the adoption of a new constitution.

Futile or fruitful? That’s the big question one week after the National Conference began in Abuja. In the real sense, the confab is supposed to be two weeks old having been inaugurated on March 17. But it deferred the commencement of technical session by one week. The adumbration started on March 24.. Seated in the auditorium of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, venue of confab, were the 492 delegates drawn from various distinct groupings in the country.

Well, there is no argument about consensus. Everybody has accepted that. What they have said is that should in case we fail to reach a consensus, what should we use and some people are saying 75 per cent because the President in his speech made mention of 75 per cent.