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Nwabueze Declines Appointment Into Nat/Conference Advisory Cmmttee, Cites Ill Health, Age

The Chairman of The Patriots, Ben Nwabueze (SAN), has declined his appointment into the Federal Government’s Advisory Committee on National Dialogue citing his ill-health and … Continue reading Nwabueze Declines Appointment Into Nat/Conference Advisory Cmmttee, Cites Ill Health, Age


The Chairman of The Patriots, Ben Nwabueze (SAN), has declined his appointment into the Federal Government’s Advisory Committee on National Dialogue citing his ill-health and old age.

In a press statement made available to Channels Television, Prof. Nwabueze disclosed that he has been battling with prostrate cancer and has been surviving by “consultations from time to time with, and treatment by, a Consultant Oncologist at Charing Cross Hospital in London”.

The elder statesman, who said he never expected to be appointed chairman or member of the Committee, added that he “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,” he said.

He however expressed his readiness to work with the advisory committee should he be called upon.

“The Patriots remain willing to work with the Presidential Committee, and to give it all necessary assistance, if called upon to do so.”

He also revealed that he already had plans to contribute to the convention of a National Conference.

“While still in London and before the setting up of the Presidential Committee was announced, I wrote to 13 prominent lawyers and political scientists to join me in a committee to prepare a Draft People’s Constitution which will be submitted for deliberation at the Uyo National Summit when it re-convenes in terms of paragraph 7 of the Communique adopted at the 3/4 September Meeting, and thereafter to be presented to the Presidency and the National Assembly as a working Paper for the National Conference proper.”

He also raised concern with a section of the Terms of Reference of the Presidential Committee, which he said contains “a somewhat vaguely worded item, to wit, “to advise government on legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/conference into the constitution and laws of the nation.”

Find the full statement here.