Activists suspicious of campaigners for Sovereign National Conference

The Joint Action Front (JAF), a coalition of Labour and Civil Society groups, has urged Nigerians to be wary of those calling for the convening of a sovereign national conference.

The body made this call at the end of a special discussion to appraise the state of the nation, in Lagos.

In a statement made available to Premium Times, the session noted that JAF is not opposed to the convening of a national conference; “but such a conference should not be at the instance of the same members of the ruling cabal and their new recruits who suddenly become ‘champions of National Dialogue.’”

The body, however, acknowledged that there are a “few patriots” who are genuinely committed to the resolution of the crises in the Nigerian polity through social dialogue.

 “But the concern of JAF is that majority of those calling for the conference are members and fronts of the ruling cabal and political parties who want to re-negotiate among themselves the conditions under which they will continue to enjoy their privileges while keeping the majority of the people poor and powerless,” read the statement signed by Abiodun Aremu, JAF’s Secretary.

“The governors and their fronts that are now dissolving into ethnic platforms of North, South, East and West to demand a conference and review of revenue allocation, are the same forces that conspired with the Federal Government to imposed hike in fuel prices, increase in electricity tariffs and other untold hardships on Nigerians,” it added.

JAF reiterated that after the January protests, what Nigerians want is a “system that is just and works for the benefits of all.”

The body further said it would, in the next few weeks, unfold a nationwide campaign to bring together all social forces committed to the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria towards building a platform that can “rescue power from the present wicked and corrupt ruling cabals.”