Critics of national confab wrong —Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has explained that the reason he is organizing a national conference is to provide an acceptable platform for Nigerians to resolve issues that are causing tension in the polity.
He has therefore urged Nigerians to embrace the idea, saying that those criticising the idea as diversionary or promoting political ambition are wrong.

The president made the assertions in his message released in Abuja on Monday to Nigerians to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

He said his administration remains fully committed to the implementation of measures and policies that will further promote and enhance national peace, stability and progress.

He stated: “It is in keeping with that avowed commitment and my firm belief in the right to freedom of expression and the right of all people in a democracy to make choices on how they wish to live and be governed that I recently announced plans for an orderly national conversation on our problems and challenges.

“Those who continue to say that the initiative is diversionary or aimed at promoting certain political ambitions are in error.

“Our sincere objective is to create an acceptable and workable platform for a national dialogue or conference that will help us to resolve the issues that still cause tension and friction in the polity, reinforce the ties that bind the country’s many ethnic nationalities and ensure that Nigeria’s immense diversity continues to be a source of strength and greatness.

“Our desire is for the greatest possible majority of Nigerians to key into the process and agree on the best way forward for our dear nation.

“We have been greatly encouraged in this regard by the very positive reaction of various national interest groups to the initiative and I seize the opportunity of this occasion to urge all other Nigerians to give their fullest possible support to this renewed effort to harness the efficacy of dialogue and consensus-building for the future well-being and progress of our beloved nation.”

While saluting Nigerians on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir, the president also implored them to find time in the midst of the celebrations to meditate on the immense benefits the nation could derive from a greater exhibition by its people of “piety, honesty, selflessness, tolerance, peaceful co-existence with others, equity, fairness and justice for all, which are an integral part of the message of the Holy Prophet.”

Presidency slams Tinubu
The Presidency on Monday slammed former Lagos state governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, over his stance on the forthcoming National Conference, saying that the All Progressive Congress (APC) leader cannot prove his claims which do not represent those of the “authentic South West leaders.”

Tinubu had said, among others,  in his reaction to the National Dialogue idea that it was a “Greek gift, diversionary and an act of public deception,” which according to him was also ill timed because of the supposed closeness to the forthcoming 2015 elections.

But addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said Tinubu’s assertions were “conjectural and speculative and has no foundation in any reasoning or logic,” adding that the onus was on him to prove his claims.

The presidential aide stated categorically that President Goodluck Jonathan “has shown convincingly that he is a credible, reliable and capable leader by his unprecedented achievements in such a short space of time. He most certainly does not flip flop as the opposition politician insinuates.”

He recalled that Jonathan had promised to embark on electoral reforms with the sole aim of giving Nigerians the full value of credible elections.

Okupe noted that it was heart-warming that Tinubu finally made seeming a volte – face on his initial opposition to the convocation of a national Dialogue/Conference because his position was condemned by the majority of the Nigerian people.

According to him, “it is obvious that his initial reaction on arrival from overseas medical trip was not well-thought out and was roundly opposed, rejected and condemned by a clear majority of the Nigerian people, in particular, the authentic Yoruba leadership in the South West.

“It is therefore crystal clear and unarguable that whatever position the APC Leader holds on the issue of the National Conference does not represent the views of the majority of Yoruba people in the South West.”

Addressing each of the points raised by the APC leader, the Presidency challenged the him to get the APC states to publish what they have implemented with their share of SURE-P proceeds.

Okupe stated: “The leader of the APC should publish the total amount of money received by the APC States and the projects for which they were used for Nigerians to see who is reliable and capable and who is not.
“The second question raised by Asiwaju Tinubu was the issue of the management of the Amnesty Programme. He claims this has been hijacked by some people and that it constitutes a drain-pipe to the Nation’s economy.

“Nothing exposes Asiwaju Tinubu’s ignorance in matters relating to national affairs than this unsubstantiated and unsustainable criticism of the otherwise laudable programme which is being well managed and co-ordinated by the Federal Government.

“Tinubu’s myopia and beclouded diatribe on this matter reveals the narrow mindedness of a local politician totally insensitive to the genuine sensibilities of other sub-nationalities within the polity.

“The results of the various programmes of the Amnesty Office are self-evident and have definitely impacted positively on the lives and wellbeing of the Youths and Communities in the Niger Delta Region.

“Finally, the reference to the fact that Mr President is calling for a National Conference at a time when his party, the PDP seems to be having an internal crisis is plainly mischievous and dishonest.

On the lack of capacity by the present administration to conduct the conference as also claimed by Tinubu, Okupe observed that for the first time in the history of post-independence Nigeria, a federal government took a bold initiative to call for a national conference without the obnoxious “no-go-areas.”

He explained that this was to enable Nigerians to have the opportunity once and for all to address all pertinent issues regarding the polity.

“This is a definite demonstration of boldness and sincerity by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,”  he stated.

Speaking further, Okupe declared: “Our dear Senator Tinubu wants the Yoruba nation and indeed the people of Lagos State to believe that he is sincere in rendering public service to the state and the people, whereas he has heavily garrisoned the state’s political apparatus with a sizeable number of his immediate family members.”

Tinubu replies
Meanwhile, Senator Bola Tinubu in his reaction through a statement signed by his Special Adviser Media, Mr Sunday Dare, described the reaction by  Presdient Goodluck Jonathan’s men to his extensive comments on the proposed national conference as ‘presidential cry baby and predictable.

The former Lagos State governor stated that he only raised a fundamental issue about President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed National Conference only for the number one citizen to resort to name-calling.

According to him, “As usual, rather than deal with the salient and substantial issues surrounding the proposed national conference raised by former Governor Tinubu, the reaction from the presidency skirted around them.

 “In typical fashion it resorted  to abusive language and name-calling. Okupe, like a punch drunk pugilist threw several empty jabs and went on a flight of fancy praising his boss and flaunting fictional  achievements of the administration in the face of Nigerians.

 “We leave it to Nigerians to judge. They are the ones who feel the pains and millions will not be able to relate to all the fictional transformational achievements reeled out by the Presidency.

“Nigerians are saddled with a President who believes  fiction is more important than fact and imagination is more genuine than reality. While we would not mind such a person to be a leading figure in our Nollywood film industry, I am frightened that he is the Chief Resident of Aso Villa and surrounded by a cast of like minds,” he said.

 However, Tinubu insisted that his searching questions about the proposed conference remain fundamental, saying “We urge Jonathan and his cry babies to take time to read through the statement and address the cloud of doubts surrounding the proposed conference. This is a  flip-flopping Presidency and on this issue it must provide answers.

“Tinubu is satisfied that that he has raised the provocative questions that need be asked and no amount of shadow boxing and presidential foul language can change that,” the statement concluded.