The outcome of the national conference may be subjected to a referendum if the delegates so desire, President Goodluck Jonathan hinted on Monday.
President Jonathan dropped the news, which he noted should interest the delegates while inaugurating the national conference at the auditorium of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja.
Present at the inauguration were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekerenmadu, who represented Senate President David Mark.
The conference, which has 492 participants and six officials, will hold for three months. It is chaired by Justice Legbo Kutigi with Prof Bolaji Akinyemi as Vice Chairman.
The President told the delegates that he had received assurance from the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House opf Representatives that the ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly would make provision for a referendum.
President Jonathan therefore, enjoined them to hasten up the process of amendments so that it could be useful should the national conference decides to subject the outcome to a referendum.
“Let me at this point thank the National Assembly for introducing the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment of the Constitution. This should be relevant for this Conference if at the end of the deliberations, the need for a referendum arises.
“I therefore urge the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to speed up the Constitutional amendment process especially with regard to the subject of referendum,” he said.
The President spoke extensively on the need for the various interest groups in the country to talk, noting that the conference therefore, provides a good avenue for people to ventilate their views without compromising national unity.
However, he charged the 492 delegates and six conference officials to focus on national agenda by jettisoning sectional interests.
President Jonathan declared that it was the dawn of a new era, expressing optimism that the outcome of the conference would be a positive turning point for Nigeria’s development.
He however reminded the delegates that they should not be under an illusion that it will be a simple task, saying the task ahead is formidable.
The President expressed optimism that the calibre of delegates at the conference were up to the task and would overcome all obstacles that would come their way.
To reassure those who are sceptical about the motive behind teh conference, he assured again, “Let me repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no personal agenda”.
He said the National Conference was coming at a very appropriate time having just celebrated the first centenary of our country.
According to him, “The most compelling task before us, as we move ahead and contemplate what our nation will be at the end of its second century, is to lay a much stronger foundation for faster development.
“This we can achieve by building a more inclusive national consensus on the structure and guiding principles of state that will guarantee our emergence as a more united, progressive and prosperous nation.
“The National Conference is therefore being convened to engage in intense introspection about the political and socio-economic challenges confronting our nation and to chart the best and most acceptable way for the resolution of such challenges in the collective interest of all the constituent parts of our fatherland.
“This coming together under one roof to confer and build a fresh national consensus for the amicable resolution of issues that still cause friction amongst our people must be seen as an essential part of the process of building a more united, stronger and progressive nation.
“It is our expectation that participants in this conference will patriotically articulate and synthesize our peoples’ thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations, and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland”.
Justifying the need for the national conference, the President said, “This National Conference is a very important avenue for the voices of our people to be heard. Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed.
“Their representatives at this conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive. They are complementing us in our march towards a greater and stronger union.
“We must not approach these issues with suspicion and antagonism. Rather, we should be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria. Even though you come to the Conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups, I urge you all to make a more united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point at this national gathering.
“Whatever the pressures on you may be, I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests”.
Present at the inauguration were state governors, ministers and top government functionaries.
