The President during a nationwide broadcast had announced constitution of the committee to chart a way forward for the country. The statement by Senator Anyin also contained the terms of Reference of the Committee.
The committee has Dr. Femi Okurunmu as Chairman while members include Prof George Obiozo, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Sen. Timothy Adudu, Col. Tony Nyiam (Rtd) and Prof. Funke Adebayo. Others are Dr. (Mrs) Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alh. Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello, Mr. Tony Uranta, and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as the Secretary of the committee.
The Terms of Reference of the committee, according to the statement, reads:
*To consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue/conference.
*To make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue/conference.
*To make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined.
*To advise on a timeframe for the national dialogue/conference.
*To advise government on a legal framework for the national dialogue/conference.
*To advise government on legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/ conference into the constitution and laws of the nation.
*To advise Government on any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national dialogue/conference.”
The Committee which has one month within which it is expected to conclude its assignment, will be inaugurated by Mr. President at the State House on Monday, 7th October, 2013 by 10 am.
Early Tuesday, President Jonathan had named former senator and Afenifere chieftain, Femi Okurounmu, as the chairman of an advisory committee on the well-clamoured Sovereign National Conference in his Independence Day nationally televised broadcast. The President also named former National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akilu Indabawa, as the Secretary of the committee with a promise to name the other members of the committee soon.
The President, in his 25 minutes address to the nation to mark the 53rd Independence Day celebration, said he expected the committee to make its report available within one month.
“Our administration has taken cognisance of suggestions over the years of well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue and the future of our beloved country. I am an advocate of dialogue. When there are issues that stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together and discuss.
“As a demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue to shapen the way forward, we have decided to set up an advisory committee whose mandate is to establish the modalitiies for a national dialogue or conference. The committee would also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process.
Femi Okurounmu, the chairman of the panel to fashion out a framework for the national dialogue was elected Senator for Ogun Central constituency in 1999. He was then a member of the Alliance for Democracy, AD. He served for a term and was ousted by the incumbent Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who was elected on the PDP platform.
Okurounmu has, since then, been involved with several Pan Yoruba groups, the Afenifere and now the Yoruba Unity Forum.
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