Nyiam had, in a letter to President Jonathan, dated November 3, 2013, explained reasons he had to resign from the appointment he had taken “with great enthusiasm and dedication,” adding that he took the action so as not to cast as a distraction or be used to destabilise the “noble cause.”
He traced the background of his decision to the incident in Benin City, Edo State, last week, in which Governor Adams Oshiomhole was involved.
“What became troubling was the governor’s talking down on the people that gathered, among whom were former governors, senators, retired armed forces generals and judges.
“What was equally disturbing was the governor’s insensitiveness to the ethno-nationalities yearning for self-determination,” Nyiam wrote.
Colonel Nyiam, in the letter he wrote to President Jonathan, gave account of the mild drama witnessed during the interactive session held in Benin City.
Nyiam said it was imperative for him to set the record straight, so that evil propagandists bent on derailing the dialogue train would stop fabricating based on ill motives.
While thanking President Jonathan for giving him the opportunity to serve Nigeria, he said one of the useful lessons of the Benin incident was that some Nigerian leaders needed to know that they could not continue to use their privileged positions to confuse citizens and presenting as patriotism, their personal agenda.
He apologised to those who might feel offended by his over-reaction to the provocation, which had pitched him against Governor Oshiomhole during the interactive session.
He recalled that he knew that a new dawn was around the corner when the president, just like Nehru of India, changed his mind about the desirability of a national conference, by announcing on October 1, a plan for a national dialogue.
“Some of us have, all our lives, been fighting for the oppressed people of our motherland, and to be given an opportunity to use dialogue to resolve our myriad of problems was too good a moment to be ignored.
“I took up the appointment with great enthusiasm and dedication, working as hard as my colleagues, to give our very best to our country,” he stated.
The retired colonel said henceforth, he would “work with colleagues from outside, using all peaceful and democratic means to bring our many decades of aspirations to fruition.”
“I will be leaving the committee, believing that equity, fairness and justice will continue to be guiding principles of its deliberations.
“Like all Nigerians, I look forward to the report and will continue to believe that a better and greater Nigeria is possible,” he said.
Source: Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment