People opposing planned National Confab selfish – Braithwaite

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, the Coordinator of the South West Consultative Forum for the National Conference, on Sunday described those opposing the planned national conference as selfish.
President Goodluck Jonathan on October 1 set up the National Conference Advisory Committee, naming Senator Femi Okurounmu as its chairman.
The committee is to facilitate the convening of a national conference by the Federal Government.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos after a closed-door meeting of the group, Braithwaite cautioned politicians speaking against the planned dialogue.
He said: “The interest of those opposing the planned conference is to seize power for political gains.
“The advocates of national conference are not calling for the breakup of Nigeria but a dialogue to redefine the basic existence of the country.”
Braithwaite said that all Nigerians should embrace the dialogue as it would give birth to a new Nigeria with equal opportunities for everyone.
He said: “The timing of this conference ıs divine because next year ıs the 100th anniversary of the Nigerian unıon.
“The dialogue will strengthen the continued union of the nation on the terms of Nigerians.”
Braithwaite commended Jonathan for buying into the idea of a national conference.
He said: “President Jonathan by this conference has taken a very bıg step.
“If the conference is well managed, the President would have succeeded ın writing his name in the sands of time.”
He, however, said that the forum had its reservations regarding the outcome of the dialogue.
The forum coordinator suggested that the outcome should be subjected to a referendum and not the approval of the National Assembly.
He said: “The purpose of the conference ıs to give Nigerians a new nation and a people’s constitution.”
He, however, urged the advisory committee to ensure that all ethnic groups and nationalities ın the country were recognised for presentations.
“Representation must also come from each zone, gender group, professional bodies and civil society groups among others,: he said.