ABUJA —There are indications that the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which held a closed door meeting with a delegation of the National Summit Group, yesterday, may have accepted to participate in the convocation of a National Conference.
Sources close to the meeting in Abuja disclosed that the ACF leadership had very fruitful deliberations with the Nigeria Summit Group, NSG, delegation and even agreed to nominate some of their members into the National Steering Committee for the convocation of the conference.
It was, however, learnt that the ACF delegation requested to be given some time to enable the northern group consult widely among northern leaders for the purpose of nominating their representatives into the National Steering Committee for the confab.
President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Vice President Namadi Sambo welcoming the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, members during interactive meeting on the security situation in the country at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wednesday.
The leader of the NSG delegation, Mr Tony Uranta had stressed on the issue of restructuring of the federation and convening of a national conference as the main goal of its consultation with different groups in the country including the leadership of the ACF while the northern group had indicated that it neither believed there was need for a change from the present structure of the nation nor to hold a national confab.
While speaking to newsmen at Abuja, yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sanni, had stated that the ACF saw nothing wrong with the present structure of the federation, noting that what needed to be addressed was the attitude of Nigerians.
Said he: “The problem with Nigeria has nothing to do with the present structure of the nation but the attitude of Nigerians and our moral values. We need to change our attitude and moral values”.
Responding to the issue of whether national conference was required to address many of the nation’s thorny socio-political and economic problems, he said that since all the relevant issues could be addressed by the National Assembly, there may be no need to convene a national confab.
Said he: “ACF is happy that NSG has come to talk about dialogue and not break up as has been previously bandied about. We find any talk about break up of Nigeria very revolting. Most of those things advocates of a Sovereign National Conference have talked about are already among the list of items that have been presented to the National Assembly for review of the Constitution. The National Assembly could do it.
“However, if the alternative proposal of first of all having a National Dialogue is adopted, the resolution of such a dialogue would still have to be submitted to the National Assembly for possible inclusion in the amended constitution”.
Earlier on in his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Summit Group Mr Tony Uranta had stated that the group had already had fruitful deliberations with the ACF. He further stated that the group had decided to initiate dialogue with the northern group just like it had done with several other groups across the country on the twin issues of restructuring of the federation and convening of a National conference. He further said that the NSG initiative was not a government driven process.
In response to a question Uranta had said: “We have held numerous meetings with Ohanaeze and many other groups across the country on the twin issues of restructuring and convening of a National Conference. We have decided to hold consultations with ACF on these same issues”.
Replying another question as to whether the NSG would accept that the resolutions of the proposed confab be submitted to the National Assembly, Uranta replied that “we are only here as initiators of the process. When the conference begins, it would have a life of its own and would determine whether its resolutions should be submitted to the National Assembly or not. We are neither the steering committee nor the strategic committee for the confab”
Commenting on the recent brick-bat between the Federal Government and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on one hand and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change during last year’s Presidential elections General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Uranta said even though he did not share Buhari’s view on current happenings in the country, the NSG was committed to amplifying things that would unite Nigerians rather than stressing on those that would divide the nation.
However, in his reaction to the verbal missiles between both sides, the ACF chieftain Sanni stated that what Buhari had said was nothing new.
Said he: “What Buhari said was thing new. However, it seems the only thing which the Federal Government considered disturbing was that that type of statement ought to come from him as a former Head of State. Several other people have also predicted an uprising in this country if the present situation of things persist”.
Among those who were in the ACF delegation were its Chairman Aliko Mohammed, Secretary Col. Musa Shehu (rtd), Publicity Secretary Anthony Sanni and Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, a first republic member of Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and second republic member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
The NSG delegation comprised of its Executive Secretary, Mr Tony Uranta, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), Senator Bernard Birabi, Publicity Secretary Wale Okunniyi and Alhaji Shettima Yerima of the Arewa Youths Forum and Chief Loretta Aniagolu.
