Determined to ensure the success of the proposed national conference, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to make adequate financial provision for the confab to take off early 2014.
The President disclosed this Wednesday while receiving the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference at the Council Chambers of the State House.
According to him, “I have already directed the coordinating Minister of the economy and minister of finance to make adequate financial provisions so that this conference will take off immediately we enter next year”.
With the submission of the 4,000 page report contained in 16 volumes by the Femi Okunromu-led committee, President Jonathan contended that “by the time we conclude this conference there will be fewer open letters that Nigerians will read”.
He said “The proposed dialogue offers this unique opportunity for us to deepen our democracy and strengthen our nation, rather than to destroy or weaken our union”.
President Jonathan promised transparent and early implementation of the report so that the conference could take off without delay next year. He also assured Nigerians that he has no personal interest in the conference but to “allow the will of Nigerians to prevail”.
While describing the report as “frightening”, the President said some members of the committee would still be called upon to assist during the implementation stage.
He also expressed optimism that the outcome of the national conference would add value to the process of building a stronger, united, more democratic and stable Nigeria.
President Jonathan spoke further, “The proposed dialogue offers this unique opportunity for us to deepen our democracy and strengthen our nation, rather than to destroy or weaken our union.
“In spite of the circumstances of our birth as a nation in 1914 and the several challenges of nation building, Nigerians have in the last 53 years demonstrated the believe that our diversity notwithstanding we are a nation with great potential. The task before us is to build a strong and united union.
“In the last few decades there have been issues that challenged our determination as a people brought together by God in the great land of promise. This committee was therefore created to advise government on a framework for Nigerians to review, discuss and proffer sustainable way forward as to how we could build a nation where our citizen will leave in peace and achieve their greatest potentials without hindrance whatsoever.
“As I said during the inauguration of the advisory committee, this administration stands for a stronger and more united Nigeria and shall do everything within its power to practically pursue this noble course.
“I thank you Mr. Chairman and other members for their commitment and resilience and dedication to the service of our fatherland.
“I commend you for the timely and inclusive manner in which you carried out your assignment. You have no doubt contributed significantly to the process of building a stronger union of Nigerian family and today’s submission of this report is one remarkable day in our own modern history.
“Mr. Chairman, I’m delighted that the committee consulted widely in compiling its reports and recommendations, reaching out to various socio-political and economic interest groups. I’m told that majority of Nigerians who participated in the interactive sessions that you conducted in 13 major cities across the country expressed agreement with our commitment of an indissoluble united and stronger Nigeria. I understand however that one person demanded an outright dissolution of our federalist structure.
“In order to meet the yearnings of Nigerians and provide our people the platform they desire, government will study this report and act on its recommendation.
“Nation building always come with challenges define by the prevailing political, economic, social and cultural mood of the people. We cannot ignore such challenges rather we must realistically address them. As our founding fathers did, we must appreciate that we are one large diverse family under God and must take steps to understand those variables that militates against our unity and aspiration to build a better society and confront them with collective determination to move forward, thereby making our diversity our source of strength.
“Our democracy is still young and for us to provide lives abundant for our people and play a noble role in world affairs, we must nurture and cultivate democratic values, the proposed dialogue offers this unique opportunity for us to deepen our democracy, strengthen our nation rather than to destroy or weaken our union.
“I will like to assure all Nigerians that we will partner with all stakeholders to convene this dialogue which outcome will add value to the process of building a stronger, united, more democratic and stable Nigeria. This discussion process is for the benefit of the entire nation, every Nigerian individual or as a group has an important role to play to ensure its success.
“I believe that by the time we conclude this conference there will be fewer open letters that Nigerians will read. I have already directed the coordinating Minister of the economy and minister of finance to make adequate financial provisions so that this conference will take off immediately we enter next year.
“And for the chairman, secretary and members of the committee, you have already presented a document that the volumes are quiet frightening, so for us to move fast, the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation will call some of you from time to time to help us quickly understand this and set up the team that will carry on with the assignment. So please we will still request that whenever we beckon on you to come and offer assistance, please oblige us.
“Once again I thank the committee for a job well done even as I express my appreciation of all Nigerians for the cooperation given to the committee. In fact the level of consultation even went beyond my expectation. As at the date you were inaugurated I recall my conversation with the chairman and when I look at what you set out to do, I’m quiet pleased because it goes beyond what I even expected you to do.
“You have done the job very, you have shown commitment and love for your country as good citizens of this great country. So all Nigerians owe you that appreciation and I believe that the world is watching us, whatever we will do, we will be very transparent. And let me also repeat myself again that I have no personal interest in this dialogue or conversation or the conference. I will allow the will of Nigerians to prevail”, he said.
Presenting the report, the committee chairman, Femi Okunronmu said there was no ‘minority report’ contrary to insinuation in some quarters.
According to him, “all members were able to work harmoniously together to produce a unified report, as signified by the presence of all the members of the committee at the reports presentation”.
He said the committee during the consulattion across the six geo-political zones was able to sensitize and mobilize the citizenry ahead of the dialogue.
“Nigerians are now only waiting the dialogue to begin. We have no doubt that you will be endearing yourself to Nigerians by putting the mechanism in place for the dialogue to begin,” he had told the President.
The committee was inaugurated in October with a mandate to submit report after six weeks. However, the committee demanded and got extension at the expiration of the period.
