Atiku, Soyinka, Saraki, Others For Restructuring Summit

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is to lead the cream of Nigeria’s political elite and other stakeholders to the inaugural “Handshake Across Nigeria” summit holding on Monday at the MUSON Centre, Lagos it was announced on Thursday.

Other dignitaries who will be attending the event are Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu; former foreign minister, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) and former United Nations Permanent Representative, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, both of whom will chair the event.

According to the Coordinator of Nzuko Umunna, Mr. Ngozi Odumuko, the ethnic nationalities will be fully represented by their leaders, namely Ohanaeze President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo; Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Convener/Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi; Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu.

Among the royal fathers that will grace the occasion are the Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as well as the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The summit is being convened by the influential Igbo think-tank, Nzuko Umunna in collaboration with The Core Federalists, a group of pan-Nigerian leaders and Aka Ikenga, another Igbo think tank. The organisers have also extended a special invitation to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR).

While Soyinka will deliver the keynote address on “Nigeria beyond oil,” the summit offers a golden opportunity for stakeholders to engage the political parties and their candidates on the vexed issue of restructuring of the polity. The highlight of the event will be the signing of an “Article of Faith” by the parties and their presidential candidates.

The summit also aims to enable the various thought leaders of the ethnic nationalities to articulate progressive ideas that could foster national integration and development, especially as the 2019 elections approach. The summit will also offer stakeholders an opportunity to interrogate the presidential candidates on their plans, programmes and policies.

Nzuko Umunna had last January held a highly successful “Handshake Across the Niger” summit in Enugu which was aimed to cement relations between the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic nationalities.

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