The national dialogue that was proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan is not elevated to the status of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), it will just be another talk shop set-up to distract Nigerians from the myriad of problems confronting the nation as well as give politicians all the cover they need to strategize for 2015.
This was the position of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Chris Uche, yesterday in Abuja. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>
The eminent lawyer, with specialization on constitutional and electoral matters, said that there was no need to embark on the dialogue just for the fun of keeping Nigerians busy while the real issues are left unattended.
His words, “My take on the announcement by the President is that once the dialogue does not have the status of a SNC it would not achieve any purpose for Nigeria. At best, it would serve to douse tension in the land by diverting the attention of Nigerians from the real issues and help politicians to prepare for 2015.
“At the end of the day, the outcome will not have the force of law as long as it is subject to the approval of the President or the legislature. As far as I am concerned, only a SNC, which will have the force of law, can save the real purpose of a conference and nothing else.” Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, said, yesterday, that it was averse to anything in the form of dialogue or conference aimed at dousing the tension in the land and move the nation forward.
The Forum’s scribe, Prof Ango Abdullahi said that the region was ready for whatever decision that the Presidency had taken.
Abdullahi said, “The North is ready for whatever has been decided in order to give the nation a better future. Nigerians really desire to have a better country. Our belief is that whatever the motive of the conference or dialogue is would be exposed at the right time. We believe that no gimmick will be hidden.”
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