Interest groups, attending the National Dialogue South-West Interactive Session in Lagos differed on the mode of selection and the number of representatives for national conference.
While the leading Yoruba Socio- political group, Afenifere called for 100 delegates; Afenifere Renewal Group asked for 30 for each ethnic nationality. Yoruba National Assembly on its own did not want group participation, claiming that the group should belong to an ethnic organization.
For Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Group (COSEG), professional bodies, students groups, women youth, among others should be allocated a total of 50 delegates. It said the Federal Government and National Assembly should not nominate any delegate.
Campaign for Democracy proposed a six-month duration -January to June 2014- for the conference. “This will clear any doubt that it will distract the 2015 elections,” Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of CD, said.
She also said the position of the people should be allowed to go through a referendum before it could be taken to the National Assembly through an executive bill from the president.
Indigenous Association of Lagos State advocated that indigenes of the three ethnic groups should be allowed to participate. On duration, the group said national conference should not exceed a period of six months.
Dynamic Women International Association expressed confidence in any structure suggested by the advisory committee.
