…From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s Independence Day announcement as regards the desirability of a national conference saying it is a welcome development.
Afenifere stated in a press release signed by its publicity secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo that since the group has been asking unwaveringly for a Sovereign National Conference, it “would cooperate with and support the Advisory Council set up by President Jonathan, where necessary.”
According to the release, “ARG also believes that the committee’s chairman, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, who has spent a significant part of his life in the struggle for democracy and true federalism, will work to produce a guideline that we can all be proud of, provided the government has not dictated a “No Go Area” to the committee.”
The group said: “We however urge President Jonathan to ensure this latest move comes from a pure motive of ending the country’s many problems. We recall many conferences had be constituted in the past that never yielded any dividend for the people of Nigeria.
“We also urge him not to place any restriction on the committee’s term of reference and the proposed conference should have no prohibition clause like Senate President David Mark suggested.”