IGBO leaders held a crucial meeting on the proposed National dialogue in Enugu yesterday where they emphasized the need for the South East to harmonize their position on various national issues and present same to the confab.

A clamour is arising from the polity: that of the Nigerian nation, there is littie need to speak; the faults have been made clear to us all; there is need for rejection of inherent cultural imperialism, to grow Nigerian-oriented culture-human, spiritual and materialistic and egalitarian culture to help Nigerians find their rightfu place in the maze.

A prominent leader and the incumbent President of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Communities Consultative Forum, NDOGCCF, High Chief Ebikpolade Mark Bou, speaking on behalf of the group, in this interview, maintains that the proposed National Conference will reshape the country and that Nigerians will re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015, no matter the opposition even within the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

In February 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo suddenly convened what he called the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC), comprising a motley of persons handpicked by himself and the State Governors as well some members of certain ethnic groups and other associations -a completely undemocratic body with no mandate from the people or from the ethnic nationalities and civil society organisations.

Igbo leaders met in Enugu, yesterday, to articulate common position for the South-East geo-political zone for the proposed National Dialogue.

The meeting held at Zodiac Hotels Enugu for over four hours was attended by Professor Ben Nwabueze, Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Senator Anyim Ude, Chief Dozie Ikedife, Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, Chief Nduka Eya, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa, Senator Offia Nwali, and Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd).

Rt. Reverend Paul Udogu is the Bishop of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Afikpo Diocese, Ebonyi State. In this interview with our correspondent, Peter Okutu, the cleric bares his mind on key national issues in the country especially the proposed national dialogue saying that ethnic nationalities must answer the question as to whether they still want to continue as a nation.

IT will be the business of the national conference to pronounce on what constitutes the federating units of the country – whether it is the zones or states – but it will then be the business of the federating units to deal with the actual creation of provinces, divisions or whatever the second tier of government under the federating units is called and what number of these each of them wants.

IT is a good thing that the President has seen it fit to set in motion the process that will lead to the holding of a national conference to give Nigerians opportunity to make their input in the making of a constitution that will govern our common life.

It is undeniable that there is political tension throughout the land, and continuing devastating insecurity involving the killings, almost daily, of so many of our fellow citizens in parts of the country.  It should be clear to all objective observers that to proceed to the 2015 general elections without first resolving the political crisis that presently shrouds Nigeria, would be fraught with serious dangers to the future cohesion, peace and stability of the country.

ON October 1, 2013 at Nigeria’s 53rd Anniversary, the president was burdened once again to address a nation steeped in spiritual and socio-economic distress. This is far from a time to envy a president with troubles looming all about.