Leader of The Patriots, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, on Thursday explained why he could not be present at the inauguration of the National Conference Advisory Committee.
The elder statesman was appointed member of the committee, chaired by Sen. Femi Okorumu.
President Goodluck Jonathan announced the appointment on Oct 1.
Controversy had trailed Nwabueze’s non-appearance at the inauguration of the committee.
In a statement in Lagos entitled: “Press Statement on my Appointments as a member of the National Conference Advisory Committee“, Nwabueze stated that the Patriots remained committed to working with the committee.
“After the Patriot’s fruitful meeting with the president, a member of our team who has access to him on a personal basis was mandated to go back to get him to set up the committee on the National Conference of which he had earlier given a hint.
“My understanding from the contacts with him was that the Patriots would be asked to nominate a member to the committee.
“I never expected to be appointed chairman or member of the committee and would, quite frankly, have considered such an appointment inappropriate in the circumstances.
“It is an appointment for a younger person, not for an old man of 83 years, afflicted by ill-health.
“It is not generally known to people that I have been fighting prostrate cancer for some years now.
“I have been going to my consultant from time to time with for treatment at Charring Cross Hospital, London.”
He explained that he had earlier written to 13 prominent lawyers and political scientists to prepare a draft peoples’ constitution.
Nwabueze said that the constitution would be submitted for deliberation at the Uyo National Summit, whenever it reconvened.
“I cut short my stay in London for medicals and returned to Nigeria on Saturday Oct. 12, to keep a long-standing commitment to chair the Anambra Literary Creativity Festival at Awka on Oct. 15.
“It may be necessary for me, after my Awka engagement, to go back to London to continue my medication.”
The don noted that the communiqué adopted at the Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 Uyo Summıt was to be presented to the Presidency and the National Assembly as a working paper for the National Conference.
“This is the area in which I think my contribution to the work of the conference would be particularly useful.
“I do not see this as in anyway conflicting with the terms of reference of the Presidential Committee, “ he added.
