Eminent Nigerians Warn Against Further Delay

By Jamiu Yisa

Eminent Nigerians at the inaugural meeting of the National Dialogue Steering Committee convened by the National Summit Group, NSG, at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has warned against further delay of a convocation of a national dialogue.

Present at the meeting were Second Republic Presidential Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai; protem chairman of the group and former Minister of Information, Chief John Nwodo; former governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah; Alhaja Ganiyat Fawehinmi; founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun. Others are former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Graham Douglas; former Secretary General of Yoruba Council of Elders, Chief Yinka Olajide and Chief Ralph Obiora among others.

Representatives from each of the six geo-political zones of the country were unanimous on the need to convenene a National Dialogue.

Secretary of the NSG, Mr Tony Uranta, expressed worry over the escalating insecurity  in the country,  stressing the need to address such issues.

He explained that the steering committee was facilitated to convene a National Dialogue aimed at addressing pressing issues facing the country.

Protem chairman of the NSG, Chief John Nwodo, argued that “as long as the present structures of the Nigerian nation persists, it will threaten the unity, peace and rapid development in the country.”

Nwodo explained that the inaugural meeting of the steering committee will address issues such as “a programme of activities to realise our agreed objectives; a strategy for raising funds for the sustenance of the activities of the steering committee that will give it objectivity; identification of groups with similar objectives as ways collaborating with such groups.”

Expressing worry over the growing insecurity in the country, the former in formation minister said: “As we meet today, the security situation which worried us at our first meeting, has worsened. Our national situation is a clarion call for all patriotic Nigerians to rise and make meaningful contributions for a peaceful and speedy resolution of our national crisis.”

Tanko Yakassai who spoke on behalf of the Northwest  expressed his support for the convocation of a national dialogue but pointed out that it must be done in conformity with the 1999 Constitution.

The elder statesman, who maintained that the country has a lot to gain if it convenes a national conference said the Northwest is prepared to give its full support to any conference that will address the problems facing the country.

He said: “We are in support of a national dialogue; we welcome a national dialogue because Nigeria has everything to gain.”

On his part, founder of OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, who spoke for the South-West, picked holes in the 1999 Constitution, describing it as defective.

While he advocated for a Peoples Constitution, he said: “You cannot continue to operate on a defective constitution. Nigeria cannot continue to operate a constitution put together a few military. We need a peoples constitution because the 1999 Constitution cannot represent the wishes of Nigerians.”

Speaking on behalf of the South-South zone, Alabo Graham Douglas said it was time Nigerians stopped rhetorics and convene a national conference to restructure the country.

According to him, “we must immediately stop rhetorics and begin the process of restructuring the nation. The Federal Government should spearhead the national dialogue as it has the capacity of getting everybody involved.”