Kutigi to have centre named in his honour for confab role

An “international roundtable” is also being planned in London to “celebrate the achievement of the conference leadership and the government of Nigeria in an international platform.”The Justice Kutigi Centre for National Dialogue, to be established by the 2014 National Conference Alumni Association (NCAA), will be used to combat terrorism and terrorist thoughts and foster dialogue […]

An “international roundtable” is also being planned in London to “celebrate the achievement of the conference leadership and the government of Nigeria in an international platform.”
The Justice Kutigi Centre for National Dialogue, to be established by the 2014 National Conference Alumni Association (NCAA), will be used to combat terrorism and terrorist thoughts and foster dialogue in the society.   
The centre would be launched during the London roundtable, according to information on the NCAA brochure.
The objective of the Kutigi proposed centre, “is to combat extremism and foster pure atmosphere that give (s) rise to wise positions and illuminating ideas that reject terrorism and terrorist thought.”
The NCAA is a post-National Conference initiative for continuous engagements and collaborations among delegates, the leaflet added.
The roundtable, scheduled to hold at Chatham House, London from 11-12 September, 2014, is titled: “Debating the New Nigeria: Taking the conversation beyond the National Conference-peace, security, democracy and national development.”     
Justice Kutigi and Hon. Meg Hillier, chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on Africa, are scheduled to be panelists. While the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Dalhatu Sarki Tafida would be the chief host and Mosunmoda Abudu, host of the Moments with Mo, will be the moderator.
According to the organisers, the roundtable is convened to “debate on the impact of the conference on the future of Nigeria amidst the challenge of insecurity and the potential of democracy as we approach the polls for 2015 elections.”
The centre is described as a “national organization which works to spread the culture of dialogue and establish it as a norm for general conduct on the levels of the individual citizen, the family and society at large reflecting adherence to, and pride in, the Islamic religion.”
Also, the group is planning to present 40 categories of award to “delegates who distinguished themselves during the course of the National Conference.”
The distinguished delegates awards will be presented to the selected delegates in a gala dinner christened “Alumni Hall of Fame: Appreciation and recognition.”
A programme of event seen by Daily Trust shows that the event was earlier scheduled for August 9, 2014 to be held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. It was not clear whether it was rescheduled.
Kutigi came under fire last week over a draft constitution smuggled into the conference which he said he had the mandate of President Jonathan to produce.
The draft constitution, which was later renamed amendments to the 1994 constitution, was seen by many delegates as a plot to extend the tenure of current office holders.
Findings by our reporter revealed that the alumni group is restricted to delegates with sympathy to President Jonathan.
It was not clear if the entire event is not financed by the Presidency. A notice by the promoters asked delegates to pay N760, 000 each to facilitate their participation, travel, and accommodation for the London event.  
Some of the delegates contacted by our reporter said they were not aware of the alumni group, saying that it must have been convened to compensate some delegates for doing the president’s bidding at the conference.