Awo Foundation, AD Endorse Confab

The Obafemi Awolowo
Foundation last Tuesday lauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s initiative to convoke a national conference for Nigerians, urging support for it.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a seminar in Lagos signed by the Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, the convener, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu and 12 others.
The executive leadership seminar had as its theme:“The National Conference: Roadmap to Nigeria’s Stability.’’
The foundation urged Nigerians to support the presidential advisory Committee chaired by Dr Femi Okurounmu inaugurated by Jonathan on Monday to achieve its objectives.
It, however, noted that the membership of the committee was skewed against the younger generation.
“Membership of the committee is skewed against the younger generation, who will have to live with the consequences of the decisions to be made,’’ said the communiqué.
It said the national conference arose out of the perception of Nigerians that they were not directly involved in the preparation and adoption of the 1999 constitution.
“Since there is a perception that the Nigerian people were not directly involved in the preparation and adoption of the present constitution, there is need for a national conference.
“It is also necessary given the fact that Nigeria is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with diverse interests.’’
According to the foundation, majority of Nigerians are limited on critical issues of survival contrary to the assumption of the political elite.
“Nigerian federalism, in its distributive mode, is dysfunctional, counter-productive and lacking in innovation.
“Some of the critical issues facing the Nigerian state include revenue derivation, devolution of powers, minority rights, security, state police, census and local government autonomy,’’ it added.
It acknowledged the understandable fear that Nigeria should not be dismembered, but noted that there was need to revalidate the political system to give autonomy to the sub-national governments and promote accountability.
The foundation expressed the conviction that the conference would contribute significantly to the creation of a more viable Nigerian polity.
Similarly, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) last Tuesday, drummed up support for the proposed national conference, describing the planned dialogue as vital in efforts to ensure national development.
The party’s National Secretary, Mr Rafiu Salau, conveyed the support in an interview with  newsmen in Abuja.
He said that the national conference, proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, would give the citizens an opportunity to nominate their representatives to convey their respective positions on what they wanted the government to do for them.