LAGOS MARCH 11TH (URHOBOTODAY)-An Icon of the Civil Society Movement and Former President of Nigerian Bar Association, Barr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN has been chosen to lead civil society intervention group initiated to extract ideological commitment from key players in the 2015 electoral process
This amongst others is the high point of the special consultative parley of leaders of thought and leading political activists in Nigeria convened by Eminent Jurist and Elderstateman, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN in Lagos on Tuesday
According to a statement issued at the end of the meeting in Lagos on Wednesday by Che Olawale Okunniyi, Spokesperson and Secretary of the body, the Coalition intervention team was initiated to set agenda for the electoral process and make it issue driven in securing a stable and prosperous future for the country
The Movement said its intervention in the 2015 elections shall be impartial and non partisan as all the leaders have already resolved to step in and play the role of the credible political ‘third force’ in the explosive build up to the 2015 generations elections
“After careful consultation on the ominous state of Nigeria, our revered leadership is now resolved to play the role of the conscience of the nation in this trying period of our political transition and shall therefore resist any attempt to be dragged into joining the bandwagon of political jobbers, mercenaries and agent provocateurs scrambling for the endorsements of either of the two leading presidential candidates
Though we appreciate the formidable profile and good intention of both President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen Muhammadu Buhari, among others, we however make bold to say that none of the aspirants and gladiators can run a real successful government on the subsisting warped democratic structure of Nigeria
The Olisa Agbakoba team, the group said, shall be expected to interface and extract concrete commitments on the future of Nigeria from key players and stakeholders in the 2015 elections including Dr Goodluck Jonathan of PDP and Gen Muhammadu Buhari of APC, the Chairman of INEC as well as leading political parties and socio political groups in the country
The group further stated that the team will continue to monitor the build up to the elections to know the appropriate action to take at each stage and how to direct and inspire the Nigerian people.
Okunniyi also stated that with the way the political class have now resorted to the politics of do or die; taking desperate and panicky actions over the struggle for political power in the 2015 elections it will be fool hardy for leaders of conscience in the country not to act on the side of innocent Nigerians before it is too late
“However, we wish to state that our own preference for fixing and developing Nigeria as a movement are quite unique, peculiar and non negotiable in view of our long struggles and sacrifices for the restructuring of Nigeria
Therefore, the indices and yardstick for leaning towards any presidential contender and mobilising support for his platform would naturally be the commitment of such candidate towards the immediate restructuring of Nigeria along the lines of inclusive democratic federalism, which, to us is the only suitable governance structure for the peace and prosperity of the Nigerian project
Okunniyi said “Other members nominated to serve on the commission includes; Prof Kinse Okoko, Mrs Ayo Obe, Alhaji Shettimah Yerima, Dr Kunle Olajide, Mr Alfred Ilenre,Mr Micheal Orobator, Mallam Naseer Kura among others. They are however expected to report back to the general assembly of eminent leaders of thought and political activists before the presidential elections slated for March 28”