The 13 Man National Conference Committee has been Set

Foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the US, Prof. George Obiozo, and Senator Khairat Gwadabe top the list of members of the National Conference Planning Committee promised by President Goodluck Jonathan this morning in his nationwide Independence Anniversary broadcast.

The committee has 11 members (excluding the Chairman and Secretary), according to a statement released in Abuja this evening by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The statement also contains the committee’s terms of reference and indicates that the members will be sworn in next week Monday. It reads as follows:

“MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE

“His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the membership and terms of Reference of the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue as follows:

“Membership:

1. Dr. Femi Okurunmu – Chairman

2. Prof George Obiozo – Member

3. Prof. Ben Nwabueze – Member

4. Sen. Khairat Gwadabe – Member

5. Sen. Timothy Adudu – Member

6. Col. Tony Nyiam (Rtd) – Member

7. Prof. Funke Adebayo – Member

8. Dr. (Mrs) Mairo Ahmed Amshi – Member

9. Dr. Abubakar Sadiq – Member

10. Alh. Dauda Birma – Member

11. Mallam Buhari Bello – Member

12. Mr. Tony Uranta – Member

13. Dr. Akilu Indabawa – Secretary

“Terms of Reference:

i. to consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue/conference

ii. to make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue/conference

iii. to make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined.

iv. to advise on a timeframe for the national dialogue/conference

v. to advise government on a legal framework for the national dialogue/conference.

vi. to advise government on legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/ conference into the constitution and laws of the nation

vii. to advise Government on any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national dialogue/conference

“The Committee shall have one month within which to conclude its assignment.

The Committee will be inaugurated by Mr. President at the State House on Monday, 7th October, 2013 by 10 am.”

A member of The Patriots, and one of those nominated as members of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the proposed national conference , Professor Ben Nwabueze, has written to President Goodluck Jonathan to be excused on medical grounds.

Nwabueze had been a strong proponent of the national discourse.

It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, Mr. Jonathan, after a meeting with The Patriots delegation in Aso Rock, changed his stance on the conference, saying he was not in any way against it as being speculated in some quarters.

In a letter to the President, the legal luminary said he may not be available for the demanding task, as he is presently attending to his health outside the country.

“I am presently in London for medicals and may be away from Nigeria for some time,” he said.

“I will be glad if I could be replaced in the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference by Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), who is a member of The Patriots,” the letter concluded.

President Jonathan, had in his independence day broadcast last Tuesday, expressed his resolve to convoke a National Conference. Dailypost