From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Yoruba Assembly on the National Conference (YANC) has ratified the modalities for the selection of delegates for the proposed National Conference by the Goodluck Jonathan-led government.
At a meeting in Isara-Remo, Ogun State, the Assembly resolved to pick two delegates from each of the six states of South West geo-political zone comprising Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo for the National Conference.
Three additional delegates, the meeting agreed, would however, be picked by the YANC led by elder statesman, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi.
The group agreed on the Yoruba Agenda for the national conference.
Some of the issues discussed at the meeting included the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, parliamentary system of government, resource control, revenue allocation, immunity for elected officials, proportional representation, regional police and a new people’s constitution.
Addressing the participants, Governor Ajimobi called for inclusiveness in the selection of delegates for the national conference, adding also that the current structure of the country was disadvantageous to the South West and contended that any “reasonable” Yoruba person would support dialogue to move Nigeria forward.
He said “I didn’t come here as an APC man. APC is not a Yoruba party, it is a national party. I’m here as a Yoruba man and all Yorubas, whether in APC or PDP or whatever, they are all represented here. A reasonable Yoruba man will always support the cause of the Yorubas and that’s why we are here”.
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the Assembly would meet up with the February 20 deadline set by the federal government for submission of delegates’ names.
Odumakin added that a pan-Yoruba meeting would be held on Thursday, February 27 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, to present the Yoruba Agenda to the generality of the people.
