The pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, and its Igbo counterpart, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have said they will reject any move to limit discussions at the national dialogue being planned by President Goodluck Jonathan. Afenifere, speaking through its Secretary, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, in Akure on Thursday, said the proposed national dialogue should not have no-go areas. “The sovereignty we are talking about is to ensure that the discussions are taken seriously. It is to make sure that what the people arrive at is taken seriously by the government.”
Also, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, told Punch on phone that the dialogue should be frank and blunt, adding that all national issues should be discussed. SEE MORE AFTER CUT>>>
The Afenifere secretary said ethnic and social-cultural associations as well as other pressure groups should take part in the conference. Arogbofa added that bodies such as Nigeria Labour Congress; the ASUU and civil societies should be invited to the national dialogue. He stressed, “There should be nothing like ‘no-go-areas.’ Nigerians should be free to discuss all the issues of contention so that they can find ways of living together as one people. “We also believe that the legislature should be represented [but] the government should not participate. The government is not the people.”
Also, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said, “Nothing should be sacrosanct. All cards are open. It should be such that any group should be free to say, ‘I don’t want to stay and their position will be respected.”
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