President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday announced the constitution of a committee to prepare the grounds for the convocation of a national conference, setting off a chain of reactions from critical stakeholders in the polity.
The president, in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary, said the 13-member advisory committee, which will establish the modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues causing friction in the polity, would be chaired by a chieftain of Afenifere, Dr. Femi Okurounmu.
The committee, with Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its secretary, has one month to submit its report and will be inaugurated by Jonathan on Monday.
In a statement the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, named other members of the committee and its terms of reference. Besides Okurounmu and Indabawa, other members of the committee are: Nigeria’s former ambassador to the US, Prof George Obiozo; legal luminary and constitutional expert, Prof. Ben Nwabueze; Senator Khairat Gwadabe; Senator Timothy Adudu; Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), who was of the Col. Gideon Orkar 1990 coup that attempted to overthrow the General Ibrahim Babangida administration; Prof. Funke Adebayo; Dr. Mairo Ahmed Amshi; Dr. Abubakar Sadiq; Alhaji Dauda Birma; Mallam Buhari Bello; and Niger Delta activist, Mr. Tony Uranta.
Anyim listed the terms of reference for the committee to include consulting expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national conference; and making recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national conference.
According to him, they are also expected to make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national conference will be determined, and as well as advise on a timeframe for the exercise.
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