Remarks by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, GCFR
On the
Occasion of the Inauguration of the
National Advisory Committee
On our Country’s Conversation towards a
Greater Nigeria
State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Monday October 7th 2013
PROTOCOLS
1. Today, we are taking historic and
concrete steps that will further strengthen
our understanding, expand the frontiers of
our inclusiveness and deepen our bond as
one people under God.
2. In my address to the Nation on the
occasion of our 53rd Independence and
Golden Anniversary as a Republic, I
announced that in response to the
yearnings of our people, we had decided to
take on the responsibility of decisively and
genuinely exploring the option of a
National Conversation.
3. In furtherance of this objective,
Government announced the names of some
Nigerians, with wide experience from
various disciplines, to form membership of
an Advisory Committee to facilitate a most
acceptable process that will bring our
aspirations to fruition. Our gathering here
today is to formally inaugurate this child of
necessity, the Advisory Committee to
midwife this Conversation.
4. Permit me to very quickly review the
foundational principles that drive our
action, and also address a few matters
arising. Firstly, let me emphasize that this is
a National Project, a sincere and
fundamental undertaking, aimed at
realistically examining and genuinely
resolving, longstanding impediments to our
cohesion and harmonious development as
a truly united Nation.
5. There is a view by some of our people
that we do not need to sit together to
dialogue over the socio-political challenges
facing our country. Some believe that
because we have held several Conferences
in the past, we do not need to hold
another one. I was one of those who
exhibited scepticism on the need for
another Conference or Dialogue. My
scepticism was borne out of the
nomenclature of such a Conference, taking
into cognizance existing democratic
structures that were products of the will of
the people.
6. However, we are in a democracy, and in
a democracy; elected leaders govern at the
behest of the citizenry. As challenges
emerge, season after season, leaders must
respond with best available strategies to
ensure that the ship of state remains
undeterred in its voyage.
7. Nations rise to the challenges that each
epoch presents. It is imperative therefore,
that in our march to nationhood, we have
to be dynamic in our approach and
response to the problems, even as we seek
solutions to them. We cannot proffer
yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems.
8. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let
us remind ourselves of the gains from
previous Conferences and Dialogues. The
Conferences that were held before 1960
were designed to produce a political system
and a roadmap to Nigeria’s independence.
9. The Constitutional Conference of 1957 in
London, for example, effectively prepared
Nigeria for Independence. The Eastern and
Western regions were granted self-
government in 1957, while the Northern
region got its own in 1959. The Office of the
Prime Minister was created and it was also
decided that the Federal Legislature would
be Bi-cameral.
10. Furthermore, the Constituent Assembly
of 1978 gave us the 1979 Constitution and
also created the current Presidential System
with its attendant checks and balances and
Fundamental Human Rights provisions. The
1999 Constitution we operate today, is a
successor to the 1979 Constitution and
records show that the 1999 Constitution
also benefited from reports and
recommendations arising from the
1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
11. Although not enshrined in the 1999
Constitution, the idea of the current Six
Geo-Political Zones that have become one
of the avenues for equitable distribution of
projects and public offices in Nigeria was
also a product of Dialogue that emerged
from the 1994/1995 Constitutional
Conference.
12. The 2005 National Political
Reform Conference produced a
number of key recommendations that were
sent to the 5th Assembly, which were
however not perfected. In 2010, I reasoned
that the outstanding recommendations
from the 2005 Conference be revisited.
13. It was my view that Government is a
continuum and that we must find ways to
strengthen the foundation of our Union. I
proceeded to set up the Justice Alpha
Belgore Committee with a mandate to
review the report for possible
implementation, especially the areas where
there was a common agreement. The
committee worked hard and came out with
its report that included a number of Bills,
which were forwarded to the National
Assembly.
14. We believe that these Bills will form key
components of the on-going Constitutional
Review by the National Assembly.
15. Clearly, every dialogue adds something
valuable to our evolving Nation. The
urgency of a National Conversation in the
present therefore, need not be over
emphasized.
16. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as
we continue to strive to build a strong and
virile Nation, especially in the midst of
agitations and tensions, we cannot deny
the fact that sitting down to talk is one right
step in calming down tensions and
channelling our grievances, misgivings and
suggestions into more positive use for the
good of our Country.
17. Let me use this opportunity to thank the
Senate President, and the leadership and
members of the National Assembly for the
support they have given to this important
National Project.
18. The concept of participatory democracy
is such that even after the people have
given their representatives the mandate to
make laws and act on their behalf, there is
also a space for the governed to make
further input into the political processes,
without undermining the authority of the
statutory bodies. Sovereignty continues to
be with the people even as the people
evolve strategies and tactics to strengthen
its foundation for the benefit of successor
generations.
19. It is this sort of collaboration between
the people and established institutions of
government, that will allow for a robust
outcome that leads to greater
understanding and a more cohesive and
inclusive Union. For me, there is no
alternative to inclusivity, equity and justice
in a modern democratic state.
20. I will therefore like to allay the fears of
those who think the Conference will call the
integrity of Nigeria into question. This
National Discourse will strengthen our
union and address issues that are often on
the front burner, and are too frequently
ignored.
21. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Committee
Members, this is a serious task, and history
beckons on you not to disappoint our
people. I want to charge you to consult
widely before sitting down to develop the
framework that will guide and guard the
proceedings of the discussions.
22. In the task before you, no voice is too
small and no opinion is irrelevant. Thus,
the views of the sceptics and those of the
enthusiasts must be accommodated as you
formulate this all important framework.
This Conversation is a People’s
Conversation and I urge you to formulate
an all-inclusive process that protects the
people’s interest.
23. Let me also urge the Advisory
Committee not only to be alive to the
expectations of our people, but to bear in
mind, that what we desire is what can work
for the good of our people and country.
The goal is to bequeath a better and a
greater Nigeria to the present and the
generation that is to come.
24. Ladies and Gentlemen, We have wasted
too much time and resources, bickering
over sectional versions of what define
reality. This is an open-ended luxury we
can no longer afford. Let us move forward,
with honest conviction and patriotic
courage, to strengthen this Republic, and
get it to work better and brighter, for all of
us, to the glory of God.
25. On this note, I hereby inaugurate the
National Advisory Committee on this
significant National Assignment and give
the Committee six weeks to submit its
report. I thank you for accepting to serve
and I wish you the very best of wisdom in
this very important call to duty.
26. Congratulations. I thank you.
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