The planned National Dialogue promoted by President Goodluck Jonathan is “a big joke and a waste of time,” says Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Elechi received the founding fathers of the state who paid him a Christmas visit in Ikwo LGA yesterday, Friday 27, 2013. The Governor’s guests wanted to know the modalities for selecting delegates from states and issues that should form their collective stand during the dialogue.
Mr. Elechi had earlier praised the initiative, urging Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity by contributing meaningfully to the conference “so that any grievances could be sorted out.” He is seen as one of President Jonathan’s supporters in South East.
However, reacting to his visitors’ questions, he described the planned dialogue as a distraction to Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections. Moreover, he added he would not participate in the exercise.
“The National conference to me is a big joke, waste of time and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m skeptical about it. It will not achieve anything,” the Governor said.
“The Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to make laws and the referendum cannot override the deliberations of the National Assembly. The best was the colloquium by former President Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national life talked and reached far-reaching decisions.
“I will still consult my people, but if at the end they decide to participate, I will not stop anybody. But I will distance mysel and be an on-looker.
“The National Assembly over-ruled it due to the third term ambitions of Obasanjo. We should revisit that colloquium and the recommendations reached.”
Reacting to the Governor’s words, a member of the Ebonyi Founding Fathers’ Association, Egwu Chima, said:
“Having attended many such conferences, he is in a better position to predict the outcome. There is a level man would attain in life and he cannot be taken as mere flesh. Elechi can no longer be taken as mere flesh in Nigerian politics and experiment; it is a product of experience.”
It will be recalled that President Jonathan has inaugurated a 13-man Advisory Committee for the planned dialogue on October 7, after approving the membership and terms of reference of the committee. The Committee has Dr. Femi Okurunmu as Chairman, while Dr. Akilu Indabawa will act as Secretary.
The committee’s terms of reference are to consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue, and to make recommendations to government on structure and modalities of the proposed national dialogue.
The committee was also directed to make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined.
National Dialogue Is "Huge Joke, Waste Of Time"
No comments:
Post a Comment