President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday formally inaugurated the much-debated national conference, with a plea to all the participants to focus on overriding national agenda rather than any interest championed by the groups they are representing.
Speaking at the inauguration, which held at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja and was witnessed by former presidents and heads of state, leadership of political parties, members of the National Assembly, state governors, and members of the Federal Executive Council, among others, Jonathan said the conference is being convened to engage in intense introspection about the political and socioeconomic challenges confronting the nation, and to chart the best and most acceptable way for the resolution of such challenges in the collective interest of all the constituent parts of our fatherland.
He reiterated that he was convening the conference due to his belief that his administration must assume responsibility for ensuring that the long-running national debate on the best way forward for the country is not in vain.
He urged participants to patriotically articulate and synthesize peoples’ thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations, and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland.
He acknowledged arguments against the conference since an elected Parliament and an elected government are already in place, but he maintained that in the truly democratic nation his administration is striving to build, it must never ignore the loudly expressed views of the majority of ordinary Nigerians.
“I have heard that majority say, that we need to rebuild trust by involving them in the process of developing a guiding document of our national political relationships, which is more acceptable to all sections of the country. I have heard our people say that we need to openly and frankly discuss our problems and seek acceptable solutions instead of allowing them to fester and remain sources of perennial conflict”, he said.
“I have also heard them say that, as the elected representatives of our people, we must never arrogate to ourselves all knowledge and wisdom regarding the development of our country. And I am in full agreement with our people. The power we hold is, without question, in trust for the people. Sovereignty belongs to the people. Their voices must be heard and factored into every decision we take on their behalf”.
He described the conference as a very important avenue for the voices of the people to be heard, their yearnings and desires discussed. He assured that delegates were neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive, but are only complementing them in the country’s march towards a greater and stronger union.
He further disagreed with the argument that since several conferences had been held in the past, another one is not needed.
“I do not share that view at all. A deeper look will reveal that the challenges we faced before each of the preceding national conferences were different. The challenges of 1956 are certainly not the challenges of 2014, and definitely not the challenges that the nation will face in years to come”, he said.
“It makes sense, therefore, that as the challenges before us evolve, we must be constant and proactive in our search for fresh solutions. We cannot continue to proffer yesterday’s solutions for today’s problems”.
He again urged delegates not to approach the issues to be discussed with suspicion and antagonism, but to be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria.
“Even though you come to the Conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups, I urge you all to make a more united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point at this national gathering. Whatever the pressures on you may be, I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests”, he said.
“Indeed, I am quite worried when I hear people say that some participants in this National Conversation are coming here to defend and promote ethnic or clannish agenda. It is very regrettable that there are persons who believe that we cannot undertake any collective task in our country without the hindrance of ethnic rivalry even after 100 years of nationhood.
“This conference gives us an opportunity to prove such persons wrong and I believe it will. As we start a new century of nationhood, we have an obligation to reshape and redirect our country for the benefit of our children. There should be no room for divisive cleavages and ethnic jingoism. There should be no room for selfish considerations that defeat the purpose of national progress. There should be room only for the national interest”.
He recalled that in the 60s, Nigeria was ranked along with some developing countries including India, Malaysia and South Korea. But today, those countries have moved far ahead in several areas. He therefore expressed hope that the outcome of the conference will be a positive turning point for the country’s development, as the opportunity of the conference must be seized to cement the cleavages and fault lines that tend to separate the people.
“I know the task before you is onerous; but there must be only one winner, and there can only be one winner if we do everything right, and that winner must be Nigeria. I urge you therefore to focus strictly on the Nigerian Agenda”, he continued.
“I expect that, as persons of integrity and honour, you will do nothing in this Conference that will undermine our efforts and desire to build a truly great nation. I also expect that your discussions will be informed only by the noblest of instincts and persuasions.
“Our sole motivation for convening this conference is the patriotic desire for a better and greater nation. We are determined that things must be done in a way and manner that will positively advance that objective. While we recognise that groups and communities are the building blocks of our nation, we must also emphasise that we need one another to build the solid and prosperous country of our dreams”.
He added that it is impossible to join hands together to build with a collective vision if people continue to harbour negative biases and prejudices against one another, and therefore begged that yesterday’s prejudices should die with yesterday.
“Today is a new day. This is the dawn of a new era. This is an opportunity to think anew. We must jettison the poisonous mind-sets of the past, which were built on unhealthy competition among our diverse groups and peoples”, Jonathan said.
“We need a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and national unity. The time has come to stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions. We have been divinely brought together under one roof. We must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affects one part of the community affects the other.
“An average Nigerian sees every part of the country as home. Let us seize the opportunity of this Conference to do more to further turn our diversity and plurality into unique national resources for strength and greatness. I have always affirmed that our ability to stay together despite our acknowledged differences, when other countries are finding it difficult to meet that challenge, is a powerful statement by Nigeria to the world on the virtues of tolerance and unity.
“It is a strong and compelling statement in a world much afflicted by strife and violence. We must sustain it. We must not allow the antagonists of unity and togetherness to prevail. We must work ceaselessly to remain one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity, as our National Anthem says. Honourable Chairman and distinguished delegates, I urge you not to be under any illusions as you begin your assignment. The task that lies ahead of you is formidable. Over the coming weeks, you will be confronted with complex and emotive issues; strong views will be expressed by opposing sides and some disagreements will, in all likelihood, be intense”.
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Retired Justice Idris Kutigi who will chair the three-month conference thanked the president for his confidence in the delegates and promised that they would discharge their duties with due diligence.
