Fresh from a medical trip abroad, a national leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, on Saturday criticized the proposed national conference, describing it as “deceptive” and “diversionary.”

Mr Tinubu stated this in Lagos at a press conference he addressed shortly after returning to the country Saturday.

President Goodluck Jonathan had, in his Independence Day broadcast to the nation last Tuesday, announced the composition of a committee to hammer out modalities for a national dialogue.

The committee, headed by a former Senator and Chieftain of the Yoruba apex socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Femi Okurounmu, will be inaugurated on Monday by the president at the Presidential Villa.

It has one month to conclude its assignment and submit its report.

Mr Tinubu, who arrived from the United Kingdom where he recuperated after a knee surgery earlier in the United States, wondered why the president was proposing a national dialogue only 15 months to the 2015 general election, adding that those running the federal administration were not even smart in their deception.

”Why is the conference coming at just about 15 months to the next general election” he asked. ”When will it hold? Why so sudden? I see a contradiction and diversion,” the former Lagos State governor said while addressing party supporters, who had come to welcome him at the Executive Jet Hanger One of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

”National conference is by whom, for whom, and at what stage? How many level of deception? These people (federal government) are not even smart public perception deception. I see a contradiction. I see diversion. I see deception, lack of honesty and integrity.”

Mr. Tinubu, whose speech was interrupted by intermittently shouts of praise by the crowd, said at no time had Nigeria in its 53 years of independence been divided as it was now.

The former Lagos State governor alleged that Mr. Jonathan was proposing the national dialogue because his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had been factionalized.

He said, “Nigeria has never been this divisive in its 53 years of existence, yet he (President Jonathan) now considers a national conference because of the apparent division in his party.

Mr. Tinubu also criticised the setting up of another committee by the Jonathan’s administration despite doing nothing with the plethora of reports by series of committees it established in the past.

”The president has received a lot of committees reports and we do not know whether the flood waters has washed them away or whether Boko Haram has taken them,” he said.

“There are no White Papers, no red papers, no black papers, nothing. Just absolute silence and yet we have another committee which is ill-timed.”

He demanded action on reports already submitted by the likes of Uwais, Lemu, Oronsanye and other committees.

”The timing is wrong. The programme is diversionary because there is no time for it now.”

Mr. Tinubu, however, assured that, as a democrat, he would discuss the issue of the proposed national dialogue with his party, adding “whatever the party says, I shall stand with.”

Postponing election will be insane

Responding to a question on whether the proposed national conference could be part of the plot to postpone the general elections, Mr Tinubu said, doing so would be insane.

”It will only be postponing the stealing and looting that some people are enjoying and we will not accept that,” he said.

”How long before the next elections, just about 15months and how long will it take to process the arrangement for such a thorough conference.

“I think we will talk about it (national conference) when we have a man of integrity, strong character and goodwill in charge of this country.”

The APC leader recalled that Mr. Jonathan had once stated that there was no need for Sovereign National Conference because the nation’s sovereignty lies with the national assembly.

”Democracy and sovereignty belongs to the people and not the national assembly and I suspect a distraction” he said, refering to the president’s sudden change of mind on the conference.

bloggernaija: Jagbadan is back

Olamagnifico: Jagaban is making sense.... I just pray that GEJ is sincere becoz we nid dat SNC... GEJ is jagaban right?

tomakint: This is what you get when weed is too much, imagine a drug addict trying to whip up sentiments against a noble cause that will take us out of the wilderness of nothingness we all as a people have been trudging on for ages! I know the National Conference has come to stay and not even 1million Tinubus can stop it this I know for real!

Mafia Man:

Tinubu is questioning the timing of the conference and he has all the rights to do so as a citizen of this country. If Jonathan once made a public statement about rejecting the offer of convening this conference, then why all of a sudden this u-turn? was it because the northern guys are frying his assss through the New PDP? or because the northerners are demanding for PDP tickets?

As matter of fact, I will prefer division of this cesspit call Nigeria. Whichever way, I hope God can make this year the last year a name known as Nigeria will ever exist.

Dive-Bomber:
I am vry surprised dat Tinubu is whining abt dis idea whether timing or no timing. D Yorubas hav always called 4 dis nd are happy dat d time has come. Dey shld use dis opportunity whether timing is ryt or wrong; dis opportunity may nt come again oooo!

Dive-Bomber:
I am vry surprised dat Tinubu is whining abt dis idea whether timing or no timing. D Yorubas hav always called 4 dis nd are happy dat d time has come. Dey shld use dis opportunity whether timing is ryt or wrong; dis opportunity may nt come again oooo!

payless:


This is not only about timing. Jonathan is a deceptive human being. He is trying to get NC/SNC in motion but it is all ruse. If Jonathan ever win re-election, that is where the NC/SNC brouhaha ends.

idumuose: Although I am not a fan of Tinubu yet I do not disagree with
him.He is nt opposed to the NC but it's the timing that he is
Looking at.And remember too that the chairman of the organising
committee is not Tinubu's fan.Infact okuronun is a member of alliance
for democracy(AD) and a critic of Tinubu.

idumuose: Although I am not a fan of Tinubu yet I do not disagree with
him.He is nt opposed to the NC but it's the timing that he is
Looking at.And remember too that the chairman of the organising
committee is not Tinubu's fan.Infact okuronun is a member of alliance
for democracy(AD) and a critic of Tinubu.

Ngwakwe: Trying so hard to assign motive to every noble call by GEJ to support your skewed opinions and disdain for your worst enemy.

Mafia Man:

Can you just drop your taradidles and address his concerns?

russellino: The SNC is more important than any friggin 2015 elections. If and only if it is taken seriously and the recommendations are put to a referendum for finality. Let's decide what we want. Enough blurred lines

payless:


He wasn't my worst enemy when I campaigned for him. He wasn't my sworn enemy when my family, friends, and relatives voted for him. He wasn't my sworn enemy when I said I couldn't wait for someone from SS and professor to have the opportunity to become the best thing to ever happened to Nigeria. The point is that Jonathan has squandered the goodwill of the people vested in him after the death of Yar'Adua. Some of you only support him on sentiment only and not on what he said he would do if given the chance.

luvinhubby:
Considering the enormity of the security challenges (highest since the civil war) and the amount of resources diverted into it, don`t you think GEJ has more than matched his words with actions, sentiments aside?