Confab: Daniel, Afenifere say Tinubu’s double speak appalling •

 

PROMINENT Nigerians, including the former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the national chairman of Labour Party (LP), Chief Dan Nwayanwu, on Tuesday, described the double speak by the  the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, over his opposition to the proposed national conference as appalling

They said they were backing President Goodluck Jonathan over the conference, as it was capable of moving the nation forward.
They said the time was ripe for Nigerians to sit at a roundtable and discuss the basis of their living together.
The people also noted that there was nothing to be feared, saying instead of breaking up the nation, it would further make us achieve a more united Nigeria.
According to the leaders, who spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital, the recent developments in the country had made it compulsory for the various ethnic groups in the country to dialogue.
Spokesperson of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said Tinubu was one of the people who canvassed for the dialogue with the violence Islamic sect, Boko Haram and wondered why the same man should now turn against conference, where all Nigerians would talk about problems bedeviling the country.
He said: “The APC leader was one of the people that canvassed for dialogue with Boko Haram a few months back. If he can canvass for a dialogue with terrorists, why should he say dialogue with Nigerian people is not necessary?
“It shows that we have a lot of self-serving politicians in this country, who have paid lipservice to federalism and national conference in the past. National conference is an idea which time has come. If we do not do it today, the outcome for Nigeria is not palatable. We must sit and discuss our country.”
However, Daniel, in his own comment, commended the president for initiating the idea of national conference, which many people had been agitating for in the past, saying it would help address issues bordering the unity of the country.
The former Ogun State governor said the move would give opportunity for the people of the country to dialogue on burning issues that had been threatening the co-existence of the country.
His words: “We Nigerians are funny people, as in the past decades, people are making so much noise about national conference; now that the conference is here, Nigerians are condemning it again. I do not have any issue with the conference.
As a matter of fact, it is the only thing we have been waiting for. We must join others in commending Mr President for taking this bold step. Let us go and talk, people should not be afraid of talk.”
The former governor added that people should not be afraid of talking as it is better to ‘talk talk than to war war’.
Meanwhile, the former governor described the death of Deji as shocking and devastating, just as he prayed for the soul of Deji to rest to rest in peace. Pointblanknews.com reports.