Kuku Meets Lagos Pastor,Bakare Over Confab

As part of government ongoing efforts to reach out to prominent people across the six geo-political zones on the planned National Dialogue, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku visited the Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, Monday, in Lagos. Although, neither of the parties disclosed the details of their closed-door meeting, Kuku, however, expressed satisfaction with the response and suggestions he got from Pastor Bakare, which he said would help in facilitating a fruitful outcome of the national conference. While appealing to Nigerians on the need to support the planned national dialogue, Kuku called on those that have already taken a bias position against the exercise to have a rethink. He said contrary to what some people are insinuating that there was an ulterior motives behind the planned exercise, “there can be no ulterior motives behind the planned national conference, the President I know, has a genuine intention to move Nigeria forward. He believes in Nigeria and he is also committed to the growth and development of the country.” Kuku also took advantage of Monday’s meeting to apologies over the harsh statement he uttered against Pastor Bakare during the January 2012 protest against the Federal Government removal of fuel subsidy. According to him, “I must confess that Mr. President personally scolded me for attacking the personality of Pastor Bakare in my attempt to defend government position on the removal of subsidy from fuel. We have discussed it over.” The cleric, on his part said his position on the national dialogue would be made known but regarding Kuku’s apology, “who am I not to forgive. As a matter of fact I see him as one of my sons in the Lord. All we are doing is in the interest of our country, the younger generation, the born and the unborn ones. From Vanguard Newspaper