By Wale Odunsi
Conveners of the National Political Summit on the future of
Nigeria, tagged, Uyo 2013, have dismissed the recent comments credited
to elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, that those billed to
attend the event were against the progress of President Goodluck
Jonathan.
Reacting to the statement yesterday, Ms Ankio Briggs, one of the
South-South coordinators of the summit, said Clark’s words were harsh
and unacceptable.
She said, “How can calling for this summit of Nigerians from
different sectors and parts of the country to discuss the future of
Nigeria, call for a Sovereign National Conference, people’s constitution
and true federalism amount to being unpatriotic, undemocratic and enemy
of President Jonathan? I find it difficult to believe that my elder and
leader, Chief E.K Clark feel that when people sit down to discuss the
future of Nigeria, they are unpatriotic and undemocratic. It is harsh.
“I will attend. It is a wrong impression to see the summit as being
about Jonathan. The summit is not anti-Jonathan. I believe that we must
have a national conference before 2015 if Nigeria is to survive. It is
in the interest of President Jonathan to have a national conference.
Maybe, President Jonathan would be the first president to have the
wisdom, boldness and courage to say Nigerians have been clamouring for
national conference, let’s give it to them.”
She wondered why eminent Nigerians like Professor Wole Soyinka,
Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor Itse Sagay, Mr Olisa Agbakoba,
Amanayabo Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Alhaji Balarabe Musa,
Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu and Chief Olu falae and others, who fought for
democracy and almost died in the struggle during the military era could
be branded enemies of democracy.
Briggs said, “we are not enemies of Jonathan. We are not saboteurs of democracy. We are protecting democracy in Nigeria.”
Briggs said, “we are not enemies of Jonathan. We are not saboteurs of democracy. We are protecting democracy in Nigeria.”
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