The Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has said that 100 political and thought leaders including 14 incumbent governors, 13 former governors, and three former Senate Presidents met over the last weekend in Lagos  to proffer solution to some of the challenges confronting Nigeria.

According to Obaigbena, the leaders, who met from February 4 to 6, 2022, under the aegis of ‘The 2022 Committee’, gathered to map a new consensus for national rebirth.

The foremost journalist made this known in a statement he co-signed with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam on behalf of the committee.

The names of the leaders, who met in Lagos were, however, not disclose in the statement.

The Star learnt that Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); former Governors Adams Oshiomhole, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Segun Osoba, Peter Obi, Ikedi Ohaki, Donald Duke, Gbenga Daniel; former Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki were at the meeting.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele attended the Abuja leg of the meeting.

It was not sure if they attended the Lagos meeting.

According to the statement titled, ‘Eminent Business, Political, Society and Thought Leaders Meet in Lagos to Build Consensus for National Rebirth’, the leaders said there was an urgent need to seek common ground to stabilise the country at this critical time of transition.

Obaigbena and Ibrahim-Imam further stated that Nigeria must be secured, peaceful and united before the country can have candidates for political offices in 2023.

They added that Nigeria needs patriots to come together to rescue the nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of the country.

Ibrahim-Imam and Obaigbena disassociated the leaders from the reports linking them with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections, noting that the Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels.

The statement read: “100 leading business, political, civil society and thought leaders met in Lagos over the last weekend from February 4-6, 2022 under the aegis of The 2022 Committee, in a nonpartisan retreat, to map a new consensus for national rebirth. The attendance list included 14 current Governors and 13 former Governors as well as 3 former Senate Presidents.

“Working in 3 Sub-Committees of National Security, The Economy and Nigeria in Transition, the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition.

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“The meetings will continue, as we work with Federal and State Governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.

“Whilst The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels, we consider attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction – candidates are only chosen by political parties and we are not a political party.

“All the 100 leading lights of the 2022 Committee have the capacity for national leadership; indeed, amongst the very active participants in the work of the Committee are over seven persons, from three or more political parties, who have already publicly declared their aspiration to lead the country but are desirous of working with other patriots for non-partisan greater national goals. We must have a secure, peaceful and united nation before we can have candidates for political offices.

“The Committee believes that what Nigeria needs today is for all patriots to come together to rescue our nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of Nigeria. We call on all patriotic volunteers, who are willing and able, to join this collective effort to stabilise the system so we can all build a new Nigeria we can all be proud of,” Ibrahim-Imam and Obaigbena stated.

TheStar