A book detailing the interests and intrigues that shaped the deliberations and outcomes of the 2014 National Conference,would be presented to the Nigeria public on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
The time of the event which is billed to be held at the Colonnade Hall, NICON Luxury Hotel, near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s headquarters, Abuja, is 10.00am.
The 633-page book titled: “The National Conversation: Interests and Intrigues that Shaped the 2014 National Conference”, was written by Akpandem James and Sam Akpe, both frontline media professionals, who were also at the Conference Secretariat.
A statement by one of the authors, Akpandem James said the event would be chaired by the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Also expected to grace the occasion include former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; Conference Secretary, Dr Mrs Valerie Azinge; Dr Akilu Indabawa who was in charge of Conference Proceedings, delegates to the Conference, top politicians and journalists, business leaders, scholars and heads of development agencies, among others.
The statement added that the book, which forward was written by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who was also the deputy chairman of the conference, would be reviewed at the event by Professor Phillip Afaha, the Director, Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja.
“The book is done in three sections. Section One contains the build-up analysis, including the road to the Conference, why it was called and the overall agenda.
“Section Two dwells on issues that shaped the Conference including how the Principal Officers handled the project; background to the composition of delegates and the contentious issue of representation; women at the conference – their antecedents and roles; how the Conference rules and procedures were fashioned out; the issue of voting and the 50 Wise men; the contentions that trailed the consensus groups; the ruckus over membership and leadership of Conference Committees; as well as wisecracks that tempered the ever rising tensions.
“Section Three contains conversations and background moves that shaped decisions on critical governance issues like Devolution of Power and Resource Allocation; Politics and Governance; Political Parties and Electoral Matters; National Security; Religion; Immunity clause; State Police; State creation; the contentious Land Use Act; the issue of Cattle Routes and Grazing Reserves; revisiting Agriculture and Water Resources; and also delegates that can be described as the forerunners and the potentates before and at the Conference.
“Apart from the front matters, the book has 105 pages of information on the structure of delegates by classification and by regions; Committees by responsibilities, leadership and membership; list of women and classification; those who died during the Conference, all the speeches delivered at both the inauguration and closing ceremonies; and a comprehensive indexing for easy reference. It is delivered in both hardcover and paperback,” the statement concluded.
