Afenifere storms Aso Rock, demands equitable representation at national confab

As Nigerians look forward to the national conference, the leadership of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group on Friday met with President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The focus of the meeting according to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was the forthcoming national conference billed to hold early 2014.
He said the delegation led by Ondo state Governor Olusegun Mimiko, demanded that there should be equal representation of all the nationalities that make up Nigeria.
Pa Fasoranti threw more light on the purpose of their visit, “We met with President Goodluck Jonathan on two major issues.
“But more importantly and more fundamentally, we have come to discuss on the issue of national conference because we believe Nigeria today is at crossroad where we must not take the wrong turn.
“Since 1960 the country has taken a wrong turn at critical junction. But for the first time we have an opportunity to discuss Nigeria to take far-reaching decisions on how to move this country forward.
“We have made it very clear to Mr. President that we want an equitable representation that will give a sense of belonging to every nationality in Nigeria.
“We want this conference to be nationality driven; people of Nigeria must come together and agree on the terms of their living together and how this country will work.
“So, representation at this conference is very critical and we have made that clear to Mr. President that based on the report of the committee he should see to it that the conference is organized in a way that will bring about fundamental changes in Nigeria”.
The Afenifere Chieftain said they assured the president that the group will continue to support him for as long as he stays focus, saying those who wanted to abort the conference wou;ld not succeed.
He spoke further, “All manner of letter are flying here and there, impeachment call here and there because they want to abort this national Conference. We have assured the president that for as long as he remains focus to give us a proper national conference, Afenifere will always support him.
“And he has assured us that this conference is more important to him than any other thing in the country today. And we appreciate the way, the spirit and the level at which he is thinking, which put us on the same wave length.
“I want to emphasis that for as long as he stays focus on the national conference agenda, Yoruba nation, Afenifere will support him, because we believe that this is the most important thing at this stage to serve Nigeria from disintegrating.
President Jonathan according to his Media Adviser, Dr Reuben Abati, while responding reassured that the conference was not meant to serve his personal interest but to ensure the emergence of a ‘New Nigeria’ after the dialogue.
The President said he was of the view that the dialogue will engender national unity and cohesion, restating that he would abide by whatever turns out to be the outcome of the conference slated to start early next year.
He therefore, enjoined all stakeholders in the Nigerian project, especially politicians to place national interest above personal interest as move closer to the commencement of the conference.
President Jonathan also assured that he would continue to do his best for the nation. On other issues raised, he assured the delegation that his administration would not marginalised the Yoruba nation either in appointment or distribution of resources.