A private, closed-door meeting was held on Sunday between President Goodluck Jonathan and a former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, less than 24 hours after Danjuma was reported in the media as having described the economy of the country in tatters.
According to a source in the Presidency who said he was not privy to their discussion, the one-on-one meeting did not look like one between the President and a man, who criticised the nation’s leadership the previous day.
Danjuma was the last visitor Jonathan received before leaving for Yaounde, Cameroon, where he is to take part in the summit of heads of states and governments of the Economic Community of Central African States, Economic Community of West African States and the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
The summit begins on Monday (today) with a focus on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The source said, “You will recall that there are some media reports today (on Sunday) suggesting that Gen. Danjuma criticised the nation’s leadership.
“It will interest you to know that the same General visited the President today. In fact, he was the last visitor the President received before leaving for Cameroun.
“Although the meeting was a one-on-one session, the cordial atmosphere in which the talk was held did not suggest a meeting between a President and somebody, who just criticised the nation’s leadership a day before.”
Danjuma, while speaking on Saturday in Zaria, Kaduna State, after the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, conferred on him the title of Jarmai Zazzau, said the current situation in Nigeria was a clear indication of leadership failure over the years.
He reportedly deplored the state of the economy, which he said was in tatters.
He also said there was a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
He said the North lagged behind the rest of the country, pointing out Northern children were missing qualitative and functional education in the highly competeitive world.
He said, “I have taken many risks in my life for the sake of Nigeria and at the age of 75, I thought I have paid my dues. I just wanted to spend the rest of my life in quiet retirement, leaving the public arena for a new generation of leaders to improve on the modest achievements of my generation.”
This comes even as Danjuma will together with other prominent elder statesmen and leaders of thought across the country will converge next week, meet in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to discuss the future of the country, at a political summit being convened by the Project Nigeria – National Consensus Group.
Those also expected at the summit include Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, who shall be the lead speaker, and former minister of petroleum and chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule.
Others are legal luminary Prof. Ben Nwabueze, former vice president Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, HRM Amayanabo Alfred Diete-Spiff, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, and former Plateau State governor Chief Solomon Lar.
The group is headed by Prof Nwabueze while a committee on the conference will be chaired by a former minister of finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma.
The summit is expected to set off a process for consultations and political negotiations towards an enduring solution to the heightening tension in the country.
In a statement made available yesterday by the head of communications of the summit secretariat, Malam Naseer Kura, the group said the national political summit is convened to douse the tension created by the emergency situation in the country.
“The emergency national consultative meeting is designed to bring together distinguished statesmen, government functionaries, political and religious leaders of thought from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to discuss and negotiate an agreed modality for securing the stability and future of Nigeria.
“The historic political summit will also kick-start a profound process of national consultations and political negotiations towards an enduring solution to the heightening tension in the country,” the statement said.
Some other personalities expected at the summit include Alh. Tanko Yakassai, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr Christopher Kolade, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Olu Falae, Alabo Graham Douglas, Chief Bisi Akande, Gen. Alani Akinriade, Prof. Pat Utomi, Afenifere leader Chief Reuben Fashoranti, , Chief Audu Ogbeh, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Sheik Ahmed Lemu, Senator David Dafinone, Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu and Gen. Jeremiah Useni.
Others are Senator Ken Nnamani, Chief John Nwodo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop (Dr) Mathew Kukah, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Prof. Itse Sagay, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, Comrade Abduwaheed Omar (NLC president), Comrade Peter Esele (ex-TUC president), Prof. Grace Alele Williams, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, Chief Phillip Asiodu, Prof Akin Oyebode, Dr Arthur Nwankwo, Alhaji Umaru Shikanfi, Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Prince Tony Momoh, Dr Ogbonnaya Onuh, Femi Falana, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Kinse Okoko, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Solomon Asemota, High Chief Raymond Dokepsi, Dr Federick Fasheun, Dr Odia Ofeimun, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Dr Sule Hamma, Dr Junaid Mohammed,Otunba Gani Adams, Hon (Mrs) Nkoyo Toyo, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mrs Ayo Obe, Mr John Momoh, Mr Shehu Sani, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce, and Chief Mike Ozekhome.
The summit secretariat also stated that key religious leaders and select royal fathers from the six geopolitical zones have also been discreetly invited to make interventions at the summit
“Furthermore, President Goodluck Jonathan, all former presidents/heads of state and their deputies and high-powered federal and state government delegations, including the leadership of the National Assembly, state governors and ministers etc are expected to participate actively at the summit.
“A detailed programme of the summit will be published on Sunday, June 30, 2013, as all invited delegates and selected observers are expected to arrive at the venue of the dialogue for accreditation on Monday, July 1, 2013,” Kura added.