Retired Justice Idris Kutigi, Chairman of the completed
National Conference, on Thursday said President Goodluck Jonathan
did not influence the decisions of the conference as speculated in
some quarters.
Kutigi said this at the closing ceremony of the conference in Abuja.
He said even when the conference sought the President’s
intervention on the voting pattern it should adopt, Jonathan still
told the delegates to sort it out themselves.
“We have finally laid to rest the apprehension that a National
Conference will lead to the disintegration of Nigeria. We have held a
national conference and we are more united today than ever.”
“Let me state here categorically, and with the fear of Almighty Allah
in my heart, that not once did you (Jonathan) interfere or dictate to
us (the delegates) in the course of this conference.”
“The only time we tried to consult the President during the conflict
over voting percentages at the very beginning of the conference, we
were told that the issue was for us to resolve.”
``At no time after that did he meet with us or speak to us,” the
conference chairman said.
Kutigi, who presented the 22-volume report with over 10 000 pages
to the President, also said the conference ended successfully
contrary to speculations that it would be a failure.

“When Mr President inaugurated the 2014 National Conference on
March 17, 2014, we knew we were taking on a tough assignment.”
“Most Nigerians did not believe that this whole enterprise was going
to last this long or come to a successful conclusion.”
“Yet here we are five months later at a ceremony to mark the
successful execution of our mandate.”
“It is not that we lasted this long that is newsworthy; but that we
overcame all the obstacles in our way,” he said.
Kutigi said there were moments when delegates disagreed on some
issues.
“But we were still able to address our differences and sought to
construct solutions that will become building blocks for a stable
nation,” he said.
The conference chairman said the conference approved over 600
resolutions dealing with issues of law, policy and constitutional
amendments.
He added that the conference did not deal with frivolous or
inconsequential issues, saying they showed courage in tackling
substantial and fundamental issues.
The chairman also said resolutions at the conference were adopted
by consensus, adding ``not once did we have to vote or come to a
division.
“This is a message that we wish the world to hear loud and clear.
Nigerians are capable of not only discussing their differences but are
also capable of coming up with solutions to these difficulties.”
Kutigi called on the National Assembly to play its role in ensuring
that the conference report translated into laws for the benefit of all
Nigerians.
He also commended the delegates and the management team for
their tenacity and dedication in spite of the enormity of the job, and
ensuring that the conference ended successfully.

http://m.news24.com/nigeria/National/News/President-Jonathan-did-not-influence-National-Conference-decisions-20140822

When the Houses of Representatives and Senate deliberate favourabley to the resolutions, thats when its going to become effective.