Date: 2014-03-17

As President Goodluck Jonathan declares open the proposed National confab today, eminent Nigerians yesterday differed on the viability of the conference solving the multifaceted challenges confronting the country, just as the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Ish’aq Oloyede, said he was not sure of his attending the conference as a delegate.

Speaking with The Herald in a telephone interview, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ilorin chapter, Dr AbdulRasheed Abiodun Adeoye, said the confab would be fruitful if there was genuine political will on the part of the convener.

But an Ilorin-based legal luminary, Mallam Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali (SAW), upbraided the conference, saying it would come to naught.

He said until the problem of insecurity and other social issues plaguing the country were resolved, the confab would amount to an exercise in futility.

Unilorin ASSU chair said, “I’m in support of the conference, and if there is genuine political will, it will be fruitful. If the outcome will be implemented, it will not come to naught. I believe the conference is a welcome development to address some of our national problems”.

Commenting, Ali said, “I believe the confab won’t differ from the previous ones. Until we solve the problem of insecurity and other social issues, the exercise will come to naught. As it is now, a lot of money will be spent. I don’t see us departing from the wastage”.

However, the former Unilorin VC and current Secretary General, National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Professor Oloyede, threw a shocker yesterday as he told our correspondent that he was not sure he’s one of the delegates to the confab.

He said, “I’m not sure I’m a delegate to the conference. I’ll let you know if I’ll be attending it.”

It would be recalled that the Federal Government through the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has listed Oloyede as one of the prominent Islamic scholars to the conference, which is being chaired by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi.