The recent call by Senate President David Mark for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) was in order to find lasting solution to the current problem facing Nigeria, the Upper Chamber said Tuesday.
Senate Spokesman, Senator Abaribe while briefing newsmen said there is need for each region to talk another region on the progress and future of the country
He said: “Let me say that the hallmark of a statesman is not to continue saying because you have said so and when you have better information and when circumstances on the ground have changed, you should not be able to change your mine.
“The Senate President did say that in view of all the things that are going on in the country at the moment and in view of the fact that there is a trend that looks like there is a need for us to talk to each other, there is need for conference, that the time has really come for Nigerians to talk to each other, if that is going to solve our problems and I think that there is nothing wrong with that.
“The caveat he put there is that there is absolutely no way you can say that you are having a sovereign conference because, in a sovereign conference, the connotation is different and the connotation of having a sovereign conference means that it will be sovereign which means also that you have to do away with the existing structures and that will not be in anybody’s interest.
” If people think that there is something that is wrong and there is need to talk about it, I don’t think that there is reason that we should not talk about it.
Abaribe said there is no iota of truth on the alleged withdrawal of diplomatic passport of Mark, advising people behind the rumour to desist from inciting some sections of people.
He said: “Let me say that when some journalists called me to find out about the matter, I told them that there was no iota of truth in that. I think that those who made the allegation have also withdrawn the allegation.
“Let me also say that indeed, these are very turbulent times in Nigeria and we want to appeal to all the people, especially those in positions of authority not to continually seek to find something that will merely continue to incite some sections of the people especially when there is no need for that.
“We need prayer and we need also that people should be very sober when matters of this nature are being discussed and efforts should be made not to try to fan embers of disunity and cause problems within the country.”