National conference to hold early 2014 –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said the national conference being planned by hisadministration would hold early next year.Jonathan spoke shortly after receiving the report of the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Dialogue saddled with the responsibility of designing a framework for the conference.Okurounmu presented the 4,000-page report to the President in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.Jonathan described the report as “frightening,” but said he had already directed the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to make adequate financial provisions for the smooth take-off of the conference.He said, “For the chairman, the secretary and members of the committee, you have already presented a document that the volumes are quite frightening.“In fact, the level of consultation even went beyond my expectation.”Jonathan told the committee members that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation would “from time to time” call upon them “ to helpus quickly understand these(documents) and set up the team that will carry out the assignment.”“We request that whenever we beckon on you for assistance you will still oblige us,” the President told the committee members.He said he believed that the outcome of the conference would end the unwarranted criticism which had trailed his administration, particularly from some political gladiators.Jonathan was apparently referring to a recent letter “Before it is too late” written to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo .The former President had in the letter accused Jonathan of condoning corruption and engagingin acts that were capable of destroying the country.Jonathan said, “I will like to assure all Nigerians that we will partner with all stakeholders to convene this dialogue which outcome will add value to the process of building a stronger, united,more democratic and stable Nigeria.“This discussion process is for the benefit of the entire nation, every Nigerian as an individual or group has an important role to play to ensure its success.“I believe that by the time we conclude this conference, there will be fewer open letters that Nigerians will read.“I have already directed the Coordinating Ministerof the Economy and Minister of Finance to make adequate financial provisions so that this conference will take off immediately we enter nextyear.”He said the Office of the SGF would soon set up the team that would carry on with the assignment.Jonathan assured that his administration wouldbe transparent in the handling of the conference.“I believe that the world is watching us. Whatever we will do, we will be very transparent. And let mealso repeat myself that I have no personal interestin this dialogue or conversation or the conference. I will allow the will of Nigerians to prevail,” he added.He said he assumed that the committee had decided to recommend a “national conference” asthe nomenclature for the project since its chairman decided to use the term repeatedly in his speech.The President,who said the task before his administration was to build a strong and united union, promised that his administration would study the report of the committee and act on its recommendations.He said, “Nation building always comes with challenges defined by the prevailing political, economic, social and cultural mood of the people. We cannot ignore such challenges, rather we must realistically address them.“As our founding fathers did, we must appreciate that we are one large diverse family under God and must take steps to understand those variables that militate against our unity and aspiration to build a better society and confront them with collective determination to move forward, thereby making our diversity our source of strength.“Our democracy is still young and for us to provide life abundant for our people and play a noble role in world affairs, we must nurture and cultivate democratic values.“The proposed dialogue offers this unique opportunity for us to deepen our democracy, strengthen our nation rather than destroying or weakening our union.”Okurounmu had earlier said the opportunity of working in the committee had strengthened their faith in the country, enhanced their patriotism anddeepened their commitment to the preservation ofits unity.He said the nationwide consultation carried out by the committee had succeeded in sensitising and mobilising the citizenry, awakening in them, a new realisation of their democratic powers.He said, “Mr. President, you have in the committee’s report the essential ingredients for a successful national conference.Okurounmu denied media reports that the committee had a minority report.“Now that our report is before you, Mr. President, Isay quite emphatically, that we have no minority report,” he said.The president had on October 7, 2013, inaugurated the 13-member committee with a six-week time frame to submit its report.