Goodluck Jonathan Remarks by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the Occasion of the Inauguration of the National
Advisory Committee On our Country’s Conversation towards a Greater Nigeria.

State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Monday
October 7th 2013 PROTOCOLS
1. Today, we are taking historic and concrete steps that
will further strengthen our understanding, expand the
frontiers of our inclusiveness and deepen our bond as
one people under God.
2. In my address to the Nation on the occasion of our
53rd Independence and Golden Anniversary as a
Republic, I announced that in response to the yearnings
of our people, we had decided to take on the
responsibility of decisively and genuinely exploring the
option of a National Conversation.
3. In furtherance of this objective, Government
announced the names of some Nigerians, with wide
experience from various disciplines, to form
membership of an Advisory Committee to facilitate a
most acceptable process that will bring our aspirations
to fruition. Our gathering here today is to formally inaugurate this child of necessity, the Advisory
Committee to midwife this Conversation.
4. Permit me to very quickly review the foundational
principles that drive our action, and also address a few
matters arising. Firstly, let me emphasize that this is a
National Project, a sincere and fundamental
undertaking, aimed at realistically examining and
genuinely resolving, longstanding impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development as a truly united
Nation.
5. There is a view by some of our people that we do not
need to sit together to dialogue over the socio-political
challenges facing our country. Some believe that
because we have held several Conferences in the past,
we do not need to hold another one. I was one of those
who exhibited scepticism on the need for another Conference or Dialogue. My scepticism was borne out of
the nomenclature of such a Conference, taking into
cognizance existing democratic structures that were
products of the will of the people.
6. However, we are in a democracy, and in a
democracy; elected leaders govern at the behest of the
citizenry. As challenges emerge, season after season,
leaders must respond with best available strategies to
ensure that the ship of state remains undeterred in its
voyage.
7. Nations rise to the challenges that each epoch
presents. It is imperative therefore, that in our march to
nationhood, we have to be dynamic in our approach
and response to the problems, even as we seek solutions
to them. We cannot proffer yesterday's solutions to
today's problems.
8. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let us remind
ourselves of the gains from previous Conferences and
Dialogues. The Conferences that were held before 1960
were designed to produce a political system and a
roadmap to Nigeria's independence.
9. The Constitutional Conference of 1957 in London, for
example, effectively prepared Nigeria for
Independence. The Eastern and Western regions were
granted self-government in 1957, while the Northern
region got its own in 1959. The Office of the Prime
Minister was created and it was also decided that the Federal Legislature would be Bi-cameral.
10. Furthermore, the Constituent Assembly of 1978 gave
us the 1979 Constitution and also created the current
Presidential System with its attendant checks and
balances and Fundamental Human Rights provisions. The
1999 Constitution we operate today, is a successor to the
1979 Constitution and records show that the 1999 Constitution also benefited from reports and
recommendations arising from the 1994/1995
Constitutional Conference.
11. Although not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the
idea of the current Six Geo-Political Zones that have
become one of the avenues for equitable distribution of
projects and public offices in Nigeria was also a product
of Dialogue that emerged from the 1994/1995
Constitutional Conference.
12. The 2005 National Political Reform Conference
produced a number of key recommendations that were
sent to the 5th Assembly, which were however not
perfected. In 2010, I reasoned that the outstanding
recommendations from the 2005 Conference be
revisited.
13. It was my view that Government is a continuum and
that we must find ways to strengthen the foundation of
our Union. I proceeded to set up the Justice Alpha
Belgore Committee with a mandate to review the report
for possible implementation, especially the areas were
there was a common agreement. The committee worked hard and came out with its report that included
a number of Bills, which were forwarded to the National
Assembly.
14. We believe that these Bills will form key components
of the on-going Constitutional Review by the National
Assembly.
15. Clearly, every dialogue adds something valuable to
our evolving Nation. The urgency of a National
Conversation in the present therefore, need not be over
emphasized.
16. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we continue
to strive to build a strong and virile Nation, especially in
the midst of agitations and tensions, we cannot deny the
fact that sitting down to talk is one right step in calming
down tensions and channelling our grievances,
misgivings and suggestions into more positive use for the good of our Country.
17. Let me use this opportunity to thank the Senate
President, and the leadership and members of the
National Assembly for the support they have given to
this important National Project.
18. The concept of participatory democracy is such that
even after the people have given their representatives the mandate to make laws and act on their behalf, there
is also a space for the governed to make further input
into the political processes, without undermining the
authority of the statutory bodies. Sovereignty continues
to be with the people even as the people evolve
strategies and tactics to strengthen its foundation for the benefit of successor generations.
19. It is this sort of collaboration between the people
and established institutions of government, that will
allow for a robust outcome that leads to greater
understanding and a more cohesive and inclusive Union.
For me, there is no alternative to inclusivity, equity and
justice in a modern democratic state.
20. I will therefore like to allay the fears of those who
think the Conference will call the integrity of Nigeria into
question. This National Discourse will strengthen our
union and address issues that are often on the front
burner, and are too frequently ignored.
21. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Committee Members,
this is a serious task, and history beckons on you not to
disappoint our people. I want to charge you to consult
widely before sitting down to develop the framework
that will guide and guard the proceedings of the
discussions.
22. In the task before you, no voice is too small and no
opinion is irrelevant. Thus, the views of the sceptics and
those of the enthusiasts must be accommodated as you
formulate this all important framework. This
Conversation is a People’s Conversation and I urge you
to formulate an all-inclusive process that protects the people’s interest.
23. Let me also urge the Advisory Committee not only to
be alive to the expectations of our people, but to bear in
mind, that what we desire is what can work for the
good of our people and country. The goal is to bequeath
a better and a greater Nigeria to the present and the
generation that is to come.
24. Ladies and Gentlemen, We have wasted too much
time and resources, bickering over sectional versions of
what define reality. This is an open-ended luxury we
can no longer afford. Let us move forward, with honest
conviction and patriotic courage, to strengthen this
Republic, and get it to work better and brighter, for all of us, to the glory of God.
25. On this note, I hereby inaugurate the National
Advisory Committee on this significant National
Assignment and give the Committee six weeks to submit
its report. I thank you for accepting to serve and I wish
you the very best of wisdom in this very important call
to duty.
26. Congratulations! I thank you.

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