final Concept Paper draft for the March 21, 2009, Rockview Conference

Dear Patriots,

Please find attached the Draft Concept Paper consists of 3 pages on a blue colour background signifying PEACE. The CONCEPT is inclusive of the Preamble, the Main Theme, Presentations, proposed Agenda and Call for Volunteers.Just in case you are unable to open the attachment, we have placed it as WORD for your navigational ease.

Please vet it and make your suggestions, comments, observations and possibly approval. You are at liberty to send your remarks to your Compatriot Dr Otive Igbuzor or yours truly.

CA




DRAFT CONCEPT PAPER.



1. PREAMBLE:



Propelled by love for a country impeded; embarrassed that though richly endowed in human and natural resources, Nigeria still carries steeply impaired political and economic gaits nearly 50 years post-independence and more than 40 years after the civil war, largely due to the damaging and divisive politics of a selfish minority and the complacence of the populace;



Desirous of uplifting the local and international citizenship status of Nigerians and transmuting into a Nation State with the capacity to lead Africa to impressive heights and invariably becoming a WorldPower proudly seated as a solid Nation;



Recognizing that democracy compels accountability, transparency, justice, free, open, fair and egalitarian society where citizens have opportunities to realize their full potentials, exercise equal rights and access to public information and records;



Conscious that the core values of leadership is integrity, honesty and that commitment to dedicated, result-oriented selfless service makes a Nation Great and these can only be achieved by open, pragmatic and smart regimes;



Guided by the fundamental principle of the Freedom of Information Act at the heart of a central policy to foster accountability in the interest of Government who needs to make its service open to scrutiny and the citizenry who needs to enjoy the right to ask questions and receive answers from responsive regimes;



With a view to disenabling the machinery for rigging elections and imposition of candidates and thereby effect change through the cherished democratic methods of the use of the ballot box, the court and other lawful means;



Members of the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) COALITION over the years, having drawn attention to the multifaceted challenges confronting Nigeria, by consensus agreed a TRANSFORMATIONAL MEETING to hold in FCT Abuja and subsequently in the six Federating Zones towards A MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE.





2. THE MAIN THEME



Flowing from the preceding paragraphs above, the main theme of the meeting will be to enact the right tools to use in bringing about change in Nigeria through the instrumentality/ activities of two identifiable umbrellas: the Political & Non-Political Groups and to implement the blue prints that would come out from the meeting; both Groups may form A GRAND COALITION FOR CHANGE.



3. PRESENTATIONS



It is proposed that there will be three main presentations. After a lead presentation, there should be at least two discussants for each presentation. The three suggested topics are:



a. Strategies for Change: This presentation will propose strategies that will bring about change in Nigeria taking into consideration international and Nigerian context. It will draw from experiences of other countries that have mobilised for and organised change. It will look at known strategies such as participation in formal institutions; campaigns, protests & boycotts; alliance building; movement building and political party organising and make recommendations within our Nigerian context and historical conjunctures.



b. Mobilising for Change: It is well recognised that mobilisation is key for any change in a society. This presentation will focus on how we can mobilise for change in Nigeria. It will examine various forms of mobilisation including the traditional media; new media; civic and political education; re-orientation and mass mobilisation. It will also look at the reforms required to enhance the conditions to struggle for change such as electoral and constitutional reforms.



c. Operationalising Strategy and Tactics: This presentation will operationalise whatever strategy agreed flowing from the presentations at the meeting. It will show how the strategies will work in practice. This will not be a prepared presentation but will flow to listening to the two previous presentations, discussions and conclusions.



In particular, the coalition should underscore the need to collaborate with the various interests groups including:-

· Citizens’ Engagement

· Engagement by professionals

· Engagement by labour

· Engagement by CSOs

· Engagement by the private sector

· Engagement by Nigerians in diaspora

· Engagement by Political parties



4. PROPOSED AGENDA:

First session

9.00am: Registration of Participants

10.00: Welcome Statement by Co-ordinator of FOIC listserve

10.10: Introduction of participants

10.40: Strategies for Change

11.10: Mobilising for Change

11.40: Discussions and Debates



1.0 pm: Lunch Break

Second session

2.30: Operationalising Strategy and Tactics

3.00: Discussions and Summations

4.00: Next Steps (Formation of Committees)



Volunteers are hereby REQUESTED & REQUIRED to play the following roles:

1) Chair/Moderators : Two – one per session

2) Lead presenters on the three topics

3) Discussants: Six (Two for each topic)

4) Rapporteur-General

5) Rapporteurs.

6) Dynamic Website design

7) A Webmaster/Administr ator for the Grand Coalition4Change.



Draft prepared by: Dr. Otive Igbuzor and Dame Carol Ajie



Monday 23rd February, 2009.