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National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders - Politics - Nairaland

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National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders by AngelicaDivine(f): 9:16am On May 21, 2013
AS Nigeria celebrates its centenary anniversary next January, leaders from across the three geopolitical zones in the country under the umbrella body of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly have called on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to hold a national or sovereign national conference before that date.

This was the consensus of opinions at the gathering of the body in Lagos, which witnessed the attendance of foremost traditional rulers and prominent Nigerians, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Yeye-Oodua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo represented by Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, Chief Edwin Clark and Alabo Tonye Gharam-Douglas.

Others were former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara; former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. General Oladipo Diya; Senator Bode Olajumoke, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Felix Ibru, Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Mr Ayo Opadokun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Chief Gani Adams, Dr Walter Ofonagoro and Hon Cairo Ojougboh, among others.

This is as the leader of Yoruba Unity Forum, Bishop Gbonigi, who led the South-West delegation at the parley, lauded President Jonathan on his initiative to call to order the Boko Haram insurgency through imposition of emergency rule, but called on Northern leaders to prevail on their subjects to cease fire in the interest of the country.

“Now that the government has chosen to assert its sovereignty over the whole nation, we call on the very powerful and influential northern traditional institutions to prevail on their subjects to lay down their arms and respect the sovereignty of Nigeria,” he said.

Addressing the gathering on the need for convocation of a national dialogue, Gbonigi, who noted the standpoint of the South-West on corruption with impunity and national insecurity, declared that the ending of insurgency in the North would not by itself alone bring about a sustainable peace in the country.

According to him, there are many areas of discontent across the country, many of which he said had the potential to burst out as open rebellions if the causes of their grievances were not addressed.

“This is why an all embracing national dialogue, or a National Conference, has become imperative. Further delay on this issue may turn out to be very expansive,” Bishop Gbonigi said.

In his message at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, while welcoming the delegates, noted that the gathering marked another chapter in the annals of the country.

The monarch said it was one other great effort at bringing together the major forces that constituted some of the component parts of Nigeria.

Ooni, who noted that the forum was not the first of its kind as it had been held in other two geopolitical zones, observed that the only way “we can continue to develop our level of understanding of one another is to make sure that gatherings of this nature are continually encouraged.

“This is the type of forum that must seek to disappoint the envious and the cynics; that unity can reign supreme amongst the component parts, political, cultural difference, religious inclination and whatsoever negative factor of historical past should never be allowed to draw a wedge of hatred or enemies between you,” he added.

The Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, noted that the successful formation of a non-partisan body of eminent political actors to champion the cause of the entire Southern part of Nigeria on issues of common interest was a significant milestone in the political evolution of Nigeria.

“It will hopefully bring our peoples much, lead to a greater demographic balance in the nation and enhance the quality of North-South political discourse.

“It is a development that would have gladened the heart of my late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were he to be alive today,” she said.

Expressing her delight about the parley, the matriarch of the Awolowo family, recalled that she happened to be the primary agent used by God, following well-considered advice from some trusted Awolowo loyalists, to mount a response to the growing and seemingly irreconciable fragmentation of Yorubaland by politicians, by founding the non-partisan Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF).

According to her, the Forum is where all Yoruba of different political persuasions can come together to articulate and promote Yoruba interests.

Former Vice-President Ekwueme, in his submission, said Nigeria should seize the opportunity of the coming Centinary celebration to ensure that every citizen and region in the country had a sense of belonging.

Ekwueme, who argued that the country had a lot to benefit from by being together, said the convocation of a national dialogue would be an opportunity to address the nation’s problems especially if there was any group who felt it did not belong.

Elder statesman, Chief Clark, lamented what he termed lack of understanding and ability on the part of the Southerners to speak with one voice unlike “our contemporaries from the North.”

However, he declared that the resolve of Southerners to correct the past errors was unwavering, adding: “We are under no illusion that our brothers and sisters from the South-East and South-West are even more dedicated to sustaining this new found solidarity and union.”

Clark, who also observed lack of respect for one another in the country, said it was time that the culture of respect and understanding of others’ feelings be cultivated and therefore the need “to hold a dialogue to discuss the basis of our existence.”
Source:http://infonigeria24.com/national-conference-should-hold-before-jan-southern-leaders/

Re: National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders by Dejohnbull: 9:52am On May 21, 2013
Pls let go sudan way' southsudan/northsudan. Southernnigeria/Northernnigeria is posible is not late lets do it united south.
Re: National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders by Elueme: 1:46pm On May 21, 2013
Dejohnbull: Pls let go sudan way' southsudan/northsudan. Southernnigeria/Northernnigeria is posible is not late lets do it united south.
We don't need to go that way at least for now. We need to talk to ourselves, foster good understanding. The egocentric nature of some need to be addressed and let each region get what they deserve. I am a Niger deltan and I fully support the use of the Niger delta resources to develop the economy of Nigeria but what I frown at is the mentality of the feudalistic north( maybe some few elites in their rank) that others should be inferior to them. I am happy that the southern leaders are beginning to meet in this light to selflessly articulate position on ways to enhance mutual respect and existence in the nation, Nigeria.

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Re: National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders by nairalad: 3:51pm On May 21, 2013
See them.. all with grey hairs. None of them will live beyong 2020 and they are clamoring for division.
Re: National Conference Should Hold Before Jan —southern Leaders by 9javoice1(m): 4:37pm On May 21, 2013
right step in a right direction

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