First, let me commend President Goodluck Jonathan for the boldness in agreeing to have this much wanted conference. For a long time there have been disagreements because some people wanted a sovereign national conference.

After several failed attempts by the Federation Accounts and Allocations Committee, FAAC, to share federally collected revenue to the 36 states, the deadlock was partially broken penultimate week with the sharing of nearly N1.196 trillion to the three tiers of government for the months of August and September, temporarily ending the financial drought in many states and bringing some relief to the state governors and their people.

Should the National Assembly decide the fate of the National Conference soon to be held at the behest of President Goodluck Jonathan? That is the question on the lips of many Nigerians against the backdrop of the suggestion in many quarters that the conference outcome should be subjected to a referendum. Some eminent Nigerians share their perspectives among other issues.

Chief Omordi George Ugbomah was a Commissioner for Environment and Works in Delta State. Ugbomah, who is currently the Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Delta North, in this interview, comments on the performance of the governor, the National Conference and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

DIFFICULT TASK: It was bound to be – selection of the best journalist, that is. But it was a task that needed to be accomplished. Of the over 1,400 entries for this year’s CNN/MULTICHOICE AFRICA JOURNALIST AWARD, 27 finalists emerged. And of the finalists, only 16 winners emerged in the categories up for grabs.