Afenifere Group says National Conference committee will decide Jonathan’s legacy

ARG said the committee will make or mar Jonathan’s legacy.
The National Chairman of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Olawale Oshun, has said the resolutions of the presidential committee on national dialogue will either seal President Goodluck Jonathan’s legacy as a worthy leader or a worthless one. In a statement, Wednesday, the leader of the Yoruba socio-political group said he was not “unmindful of certain doubts about the President’s motive, which some have even described as less than wholesome.”
“ARG (Afenifere Renewal Group) believes such doubts are not unfounded, emanating from deceits of past leaders. Even some of the past actions of the President himself have hardly engendered confidence,” said Mr. Oshun. ”All we can say for now is that: it is left for President Jonathan to decide if he would like to be remembered for any worthy legacy,” Mr. Oshun said.
“Nigerians have relentlessly canvassed for dialogue, and over the years, especially in view of the fact that the problems of the country continue to multiply, this decision by the president should be seen as a welcome development,” he added. However, Mr. Oshun urged Nigerians to accept the offer “on face value” and provide necessary support for the committee, with the hope that “it would lead Nigeria to that much-desired destination.”
“This is our expectation, which we believe is shared by millions of Nigerians. We want to emphasise that it is this expectation, not the presidential mandate, that places a huge responsibility on the shoulders of this committee’s members and we urge them not to disappoint Nigerians. “But we must not only expect, we must also work tirelessly and put the members of this committee on their toes. We must let them realise how much the survival and future prosperity of this nation require that they do the right thing.”
He promised that ARG, “being an unwavering advocate of such a platform that allows Nigerians to examine its basis of existence, ARG cannot but now avail the committee its full support and avail it of its vast library of materials that can guide the committee towards a successful deliberation.”
“For us in ARG, we are accepting this offer on its face value, and wish to enjoin everyone to do so, believing it would lead Nigeria to that much-desired destination. The outcome of this move might really be beyond the president, as it is about the collective yearnings of the generality of the people of this country.”
Mr. Jonathan has inaugurated the 13-member advisory committee headed by a former senator, Femi Okurounmu.

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