The 2022 Committee: Eminent Leaders Meet In Lagos, Discuss National Rebirth

A map of Lagos, a state in south-west Nigeria.

Prominent business, political, civil society, and thought leaders have met in a nonpartisan retreat to map a new consensus for national rebirth.

The meeting which held in Lagos between last Friday and Sunday was attended by various members of The 2022 Committee.

Also among the attendees were 14 serving state governors, 13 former governors, as well as three former Senate Presidents.

“Working in three Sub-Committees of National Security, The Economy, and Nigeria in Transition, the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition,” the group said in a statement on Wednesday by Kashim Imam and Nduka Obaigbena.

“The meetings will continue, as we work with Federal and State Governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.”

According to the group, The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels.

It, however, warned against attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections.

The group described such a move as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction, stressing that only political parties could choose candidates and it is not one.

“All the 100 leading lights of The 2022 Committee have the capacity for national leadership; indeed, amongst the very active participants in the work of the Committee are over seven persons from three or more political parties who have already publicly declared their aspiration to lead the country but are desirous of working with other patriots for non-partisan greater national goals,” it added.

“We must have a secure, peaceful, and united nation before we can have candidates for political offices. The Committee believes that what Nigeria needs today is for all patriots to come together to rescue our nation from all political, economic, and security threats, and promote the unity of Nigeria.

“We call on all patriotic volunteers, who are willing and able, to join this collective effort to stabilise the system so we can all build a new Nigeria we can all be proud of.”