National conference to hold early 2014 - President Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said the national conference being planned by his administration would hold early next year.
He said he had already directed the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to make adequate financial provisions to ensure the smooth take off of the confab.
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.
The President said at the end of the conference, which was meant to build a better cohesive society for the present and future generations of Nigerians, there would be less open letters for Nigerians.
He was apparently referring to a recent letter titled ‘Before it is too late, written by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
in which the former President accused Jonathan of condoning corruption and engaging in acts that were capable of destroying the country.
He 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 individual or as a 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 Minister of the Eonomy and Minister of Finance to make adequate financial provisions so that this conference will take off immediately we enter next year.”
Source: The Punch
