•pays condolence visit to family of Ayo Adebanjo
•says convening the conference made possible because of people like late Afenifere leader
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday gave reasons why his administration could not implement the report of the 2014 Confab he set up, citing crisis within his then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the reasons.
Jonathan made this known when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, in company of former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma and former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olaode George, among others.
Jonathan said convening the CONFAB was made possible because of people of integrity like the Late Chief Adebanjo based on insinuations about perceived interest on his side which was unfounded, pointing out that he would have love to implement the recommendations before leaving office in 2015, but for the crisis orchestrated by some people within his party.
He explained that the composition of the 2014 Conference was credible, saying that he gave it “total authority to discuss what is good for this country,” just as he noted that when a nation was not moving as expected, there was a need for a comprehensive dialogue.
“I didn’t know that the issue of national conference would even come on board, without people like him and other leaders there, it wouldn’t have taken place because they thought initially I wanted to manipulate the system.
“I remember in the beginning when there were issues, some came to me, they said president, we want to know if there were some areas you were interested in. I say look, I can’t even advise you, you are more experienced than me. You are the leaders, Supreme Court justices, more than 50 percent of members were more experienced than me, it was benevolent privilege that made me to do that, setting up the Confab.”
He, however, recalled that people today still make reference to that conference, while they urged for need to revisit it whenever there was any issue at hand.
Jonathan described the deaths of the Afenifere leader, Chief Adebanjo and the PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, almost at the same time as a great loss to Nigeria, describing them as men of courage and wisdom who meant well for the country.
He said for the two of them to have died simultaneously was a great shock, having worked together for the interest of Nigeria.
The former president described the Late Chief Adebanjo as an upright man who was committed to the growth and development of Nigeria for the benefit of all.
Besides, he said the late elder statesman believed in truth and justice, noting that no nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.
“Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone, he was a leader of this country. He was a man with enormous wisdom, courage and willingness to do the right thing for this country.
“He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.
“Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well,” he said.
