Presidency is keen on ensuring a national consensus.
With the National Conference entering a crucial stage of its work, the presidency has moved in to rally elder statesmen to support some of the major reforms expected to come out of the programme.
As part of measures to reach out to the 37 elder statesmen, who are also delegates to the conference, a meeting has been arranged for 3 p.m. on Thursday.
The meeting is aimed at uniting the critical segment of the delegates towards achieving consensus at the Conference.
The elder statesmen include former ministers, top politicians, diplomats, former military top brass, academics, former top judicial officers and legal practitioners.
PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed that the meeting will be held under the auspices of former diplomat, Ibrahim Gambari.
Mr. Gambari, a scholar and former Minister of External Affairs, was nominated as an elder statesman to the Conference by the Kwara State Government.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the meeting will be held at the administrative block of the National Judicial Institute, NJI, away from the prying eyes of the press.
An authoritative source said, “The group of elder statesmen in the Conference will be meeting on Thursday by 3 p.m. during the lunch break. The meeting is long overdue but we were just waiting for the right opportunity to call ourselves together and discuss some of the issues that would add value to the work of the Conference.
“You know that all those in the group are people of proven integrity and conduct and we don’t have personal issues to protect. If we can’t find solutions to our common problems now, it will be difficult for the nation to make meaningful progress.”
Another source told PREMIUM TIMES that the presidency was keen on ensuring that the Conference achieves its objectives by making workable recommendations for reforms in every sector of national life.
Already, the source said, the presidency has reached out to interest groups to assure them of the seriousness of its intention in convening the conference.
The meeting of the group of elder statesmen is also said to have been triggered by the presidency in order to reap the experience of the members towards the building of a national consensus.
Some of the members of the group are Tunji Braithwaite, Ayo Adebanjo, Richard Akinjide, Olu Falae, Olusola Obada, Kunle Olajide, Ike Nwachukwu, Josephine Anenih, Jim Nwobodo, Mike Ahamba, Azu Agboti and King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Others are Edwin Clark, Daisy Danjuma, Evara Esu, Nduese Essien, Ambrose Okwoli, Abdulahi Ohoima, Ibrahim Gambari, Dogara Ogbole, Jerry Gana, Jonathan Temlong, Jubril Aminu, Ahmadu Muazu, Ibrahim Bunu and Yerima Abdulahi.
The group also includes John Mamman, Adamu Waziri, Umaru Zadan, Mohammed JUmari, Tanko Yakassai, Ibrahim Ida, Usman Argungu, Sambo Jinadu, Aisha Gusau and A.B. Mamman.
“Unity Group”
PREMIUM TIMES also learnt that some delegates to the Conference have started forming groups ahead of the formation of committees to handle key responsibilities.
One of such bodies is said to be the Unity Group which draws members from various delegations across ethnic, religious and geo-political zones.
The Unity Group was said to have had its inaugural meeting on Wednesday night, where the members expressed readiness to work towards the unity of the country.
The group, largely made up of representatives of labour and civil society groups, was supposed to have met on Wednesday to consider issues of mutual interests; but only a few delegates from the civil society turned up.
The delegates representing organised labour, however, went on with the meeting and took some decisions which will be presented to the Conference.
