According to Jonathan, the conference was convened to address the country’s challenges through comprehensive dialogue. He noted that the conference’s composition was credible and that he had given it the authority to discuss the country’s best interests.
However, Jonathan’s plans were thwarted by the crisis within his party, which made it impossible for him to implement the conference’s recommendations before leaving office in 2015.
Jonathan’s explanation corroborates his earlier statement, where he cited the political climate and the defection of key lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, as reasons for not implementing the report.
“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.
