The unity of a new constitution for Nigeria that will embody solution to national problems prottered by the conference.
The outcome of the national conference, according to Babatope, would ensure the permanent consolidation of democracy and democratic culture in the country.
To him, the chairman of the conference should be a retired Supreme Court judge (not from the area of the president), a secretary (provided by the Head of the Federal Service), a representative from each of the 36 state assemblies, two representatives of all registered political parties and six representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), each from the six geo-political zones).
Among the list of participants, he said, should be one representative each from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASUU), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and all other professional associations.
Besides, Babatope proposed a representative from each human rights group, six representatives from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria; two former Heads of State, six representatives of traditional rulers and two representatives of the Nigerian Chamber of Commence and Industry.
He further listed 14 elders who would not have voting rights but can only play advisory roles. They include Alhaji Ali Monguno, Alhaji Maitama Sule, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief T. O. S. Benson, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, Chief C. C Onoh, and Chief A. A Akinloye.
Others are Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Chief Allison Ayida, Emmanuel Alayande, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Chief M. T. Mbu.
The contributions of these elders, he said, become important as they have witnessed the struggle of the nation's independence in 1960.
Babatope, however, blamed the opposition parties in the country for strengthening the PDP because of their poor organisation.
He praised the National Conscience Party (NCP) for its effort, but added: "It is structurally and financially weak to offer any meaningful challenge to the PDP now and in 2007".
"Opposition parties are not organising to displace PDP in the 2007 elections by what we see in their operations. The PDP has contradictions that can be successfully exploited by a serious-minded opposition to place itself as a force in the 2007 elections", he said.
The former minister said the ruling party lacks many ideological stand-points and it is only being helped by the presence of President Olusegun Obasanjo, "who is a strong personality, a good political antecedent of a military ruler and that has strong international recognition and connections".
"With president Obasanjo leaving the stage in 2007, a strong influence and personality is being removed from the PDP ranks and the party will have to struggle hard to contain the consequent inner party struggles for power that it will experience between 2005 and 2007", he added.
