The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, on Friday described the planned national conference as the soul of a new Nigeria, hence more important than anything in the polity, including the 2015 elections.
The leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, made the observation in an address he delivered when he led some other members to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A copy of the address was made available to journalists.
They spoke just as the President was quoted as saying that the national conference was important to him more than anything else.
Fasoranti attributed the open letters being addressed to the President and the calls for his impeachment to those who want the conference aborted because they do not want the country restructured.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had recently written an 18-page open letter to the President in which he accused him among other things of encouraging corruption.
The All Progressives Congress has also called for the President’s impeachment based on the revelations in Obasanjo’s letter.
While commending Jonathan for initiating the dialogue, the Afenifere leader however asked Jonathan to expect more as the process moves on.
He said, “Mr. President, some forces that have benefited from the imbalance and inequity of decades would not fold their arms and watch Nigeria restructured into an entity that works for all its component units.
“This is why all manners of ‘letters’ were posted to you with ‘impeachment’ calls. Expect more of that as the process moves on by those who want the National Dialogue aborted.
“Afenifere considers the National Conference as the soul of a new Nigeria and as such much more important than anything in the polity, 2015 election inclusive.
“That is why we are strongly advising that the conference be concluded early so that the 2015 elections can be conducted on the basis of the new constitution.”
Copyright PUNCH.
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