National Confab Not To Promote Jonathan’s Interests – Gulak

Jonathan-OkurounmuThe forthcoming National Conference is not a platform to promote the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan or parochial political agenda of any national group but a timely call on Nigerians to set another milestone for a brighter future and national rebirth.

This was the view of Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, yesterday as he commended the pedigree of delegates that are being nominated by states and groups to represent them at the conference, which is slated to begin in the month of March.

Already, President Jonathan has announced the appointment of retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi as Chairman of the conference with former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi as Vice Chairman and Dr. Valerie Azinge as Secretary.

In a statement yesterday, Gulak said President Jonathan is not using the National Conference as a forum to propagate his personal political agenda as the issues to be discussed are greater than the aspirations of any individual or political group.

He said: “We are talking about the structure of our country and the relationship between and amongst its people; we are faced with determining how we get our resources and how we utilise them for development that will make life meaningful and sustainable for millions of Nigerians.

“We are concerned about the structure of government and the cost of governance, and cannot relegate issues of peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and also respect for gender, human rights, rule of law, freedom of worship and honouring international obligations in a fast changing world”.