Jonathan: Implementation of 2014 confab report will end ethnic agitations

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the implementation of the 2014 national conference report will end ethnic agitations in the country.

He said this on Saturday while speaking at a rally tagged ‘Restructuring the Nigerian federation’, which held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

The rally was organised by the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum — under the aegis of Mass Alliance for Inclusive Nigeria (MAIN) Front.

The former president, whose address was read by Nimi Barigha Amange, a senator, said his administration organised the conference to address yearnings for a reform of the Nigerian federation.

“In convening the national conference, I had my mind trained on establishing a polity that would work for our people and further unite our country… the system that would close the gaps along tribal, ethnic and religious lines,” he said.

“Until Nigeria comes up with an acceptable way of running the country, there is every likelihood that our nation would continue to witness agitations and protests from groups and ethnic nationalities that believe rightly or wrongly that they have been handed the short end of the stick.”

Jonathan said the goal of the conference — attended by 500 persons from across the country — was “thoroughly” discussed, and recommendations made based on findings.

“Recent agitations, clamour and proffer of solutions have not radically departed from those findings,” he said.

“(The conference) agreed on every issue that has for long agitated the minds of Nigerians on how best to run the federation.

“This they did to the best of their abilities and to the satisfaction of most stakeholders as decisions were uniquely reached by consensus.”