National Conference: Questions For The Committee

AS President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurates
the 13-man National Dialogue Advisory Committee, tomorrow, the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led panel has a number of tough questions to answer.
While raising the panel, last Tuesday, Jonathan handed the members a four-point
terms of

National Dialogue c'tee to be inaugurated on Monday, Oct.7

President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue on Monday, Oct. 7.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja and signed by Mr Sam
Nwaobasi, the Special Assistant (Media) to the

In Favour Of 'Dialogue Or National Conference'

President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance to
conduct a national dialogue on issues
affecting the country took many unawares,
especially after many protagonists have
shouted themselves hoarse to no avail and
rested their case. He has since been receiving
kudos and knocks and also generating a fresh

Mr. President's Proposal For National Conference Sparks Mixed Reaction

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.

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Sovereign National Conference: Agbakoba Writes To Senate

On the recent issues of holding a National Conference, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has written to Senator David Mark on the reasons why a Sovereign National Conference, SNC should be held.
  Agbakoba said “the Civil Society in Nigeria has always insisted that the People of Nigeria  will have to authenticate, legitimize and endorse a Constitution to govern their affairs. Unfortunately this simple wish was always denied by the colonial, military
and even elected government.”
He also said the conference should be
convened by President Goodluck
Jonathan. Agbakoba, in a statement, frowned at the refusal by previous governments to hold the conference saying it would afford Nigerians a new constitution.

While he faulted claims that SNC might
lead to the disintegration of the country,
he appealed to the Senate President to
take up the challenge of convening the
conference.