Erstwhile Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has described plans for the convocation of a national dialogue as a welcome idea but expressed worries over the nearness of the plan to the 2015 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday evening after a reception organised by the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria to mark the country’s National Day, which held at the official residence of Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Alvaro Aguilar, Atiku expressed his positive disposition to the dialogue, saying he would even attend if invited.
“My worry is about the timing of the national dialogue. It’s too close to electioneering and I’m wondering whether we have the capacity to manage very sensitive issues,” he observed.
“Electioneering in Nigeria can be a very sensitive and controversial issue and in addition to that you now have a national dialogue, otherwise I do not have any serious objection to it.”
The former presidential aspirant listed restructuring of the country, devolution of powers and increased revenue allocation to state and local governments as some of the pressing national matters that should primarily attract the interest of the conference,
He argued that components of the country should have more powers while power, responsibility and money at the centre should be significantly reduced. He also argued that the current two-term tenure for elected representatives of the country, such as presidents and governors, should be upheld.
Congratulating Spain on the occasion, he said: “I look forward to a more strengthened relationship between Spain and Nigeria and I believe that our relationship has been very good.
“I will like to see more Spanish investment. Even though the country is going through very difficult economic times, we hope for more investments.”
