Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has disclosed that 100 political and thought leaders, including 14 incumbent governors, 13 former governors, and three former Presidents of tbey Senate met last weekend in Lagos to proffer solution to some of the challenges confronting Nigeria.
Obaigbena revealed that the leaders, who met under the aegis of ‘The 2022 Committee,’ from February 4 to 6, 2022, gathered to map a new consensus for national rebirth.
This was made known by the foremost journalist in a statement he co-signed with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam on behalf of the committee.
While the names of the leaders who met in Lagos were, however, not disclose in the statement, it was learnt that incumbent governors who attended the meeting include: Lagos and Ebonyi states governors, Dave Umahi and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, respectively; former Governors Adams Oshiomhole, Edo; Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; Segun Osoba, Ogun; Peter Obi, Anambra; Ikedi Ohakim, Imo; Donald Duke, Cross River; Gbenga Daniel, Ogun; and former President of the Senate Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki.
It was also learnt that business moguls, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, attended the Abuja leg of the meeting. It was however unclear if they were part of the Lagos parley.
The statement titled: ‘Eminent Business, Political, Society and Thought Leaders Meet in Lagos to Build Consensus for National Rebirth’, stated that the leaders said there was an urgent need to seek common ground to stabilise the country at this critical time of transition.
Obaigbena and Ibrahim-Imam further stated that Nigeria must be secured, peaceful and united before the country can have candidates for political offices in 2023.
They added that Nigeria needs patriots to come together to rescue the nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of the country.
Disassociating the leaders from reports linking them Aspirants or political parties for the 2023 presidential election, Obaigbena and Ibrahim-Imam and Obaigbena noted that the Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels.
The statement reads, “100 leading business, political, civil society and thought leaders met in Lagos over the last weekend from February 4 to 6, 2022 under the aegis of The 2022 Committee, in a non-partisan retreat, to map a new consensus for national rebirth. The attendance list included 14 current governors and 13 former governors as well as three former Presidents of the Senate.
“Working in three sub-committees of National Security, The Economy and Nigeria in Transition, the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition.
“The meetings will continue, as we work with federal and state governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.
“Whilst The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels, we consider attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction – candidates are only chosen by political parties and we are not a political party.
“All the 100 leading lights of the 2022 Committee have the capacity for national leadership; indeed, amongst the very active participants in the work of the Committee are over seven persons, from three or more political parties, who have already publicly declared their aspiration to lead the country, but are desirous of working with other patriots for non-partisan greater national goals. We must have a secure, peaceful and united nation before we can have candidates for political offices.
“The Committee believes that what Nigeria needs today is for all patriots to come together to rescue our nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of Nigeria. We call on all patriotic volunteers, who are willing and able, to join this collective effort to stabilise the system so we can all build a new Nigeria we can all be proud of.”
