Former Minister of Finance and National Development Kalu Idika Kalu has said that the proposed National Conference should have the capacity to address obvious imbalance in the country.
Kalu who spoke at his country home in Ebem Ohafia, Abia state, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had taken the right step in ensuring that Nigerians, come together with a view to addressing some of the teething problems in the country.
He called on all ethnic nationalities as well as politicians, irrespective of party affiliations, to embrace the dialogue, which he said was in the best interest of the nation.
“Whether as governors, senators, president or members of the house. let’s take a new look at the structure that is going to give this nation maximum growth and development.
“We can delay the elections a little bit to restructure and bring about a system that will promote growth. That is more important than rushing to another election.
“Nigerians need to sit down and talk because we are having problems all over the place. So let’s sit down and talk about the framework that will make Nigeria work,” he said.
Kalu said that the country would be more viable if the framework of the restructuring the country was based on the local government system.
He said that after restructuring at that level, “we can then decide what states we want.
“It’s a radical idea but the basic criterion is that we really come to the national conference with an open mind to say yes this is our country. Let’s use this opportunity, let’s not waste this opportunity because of party politics,” Kalu said.
