1. Thanks for Dr. Ekeh's comments. The Peace Summit train is indeed rolling!

2. First, I believe that we should SIMPLY fix the date without further delay: today being June 23, 1999, we can fix it for July 24, 1999, almost one month to the day, if there is no serious objection. That will help fix calendars with much more ado.

3. The idea behind the call-in from Nigeria was not as a publicity stunt but to get the latest update from the people on the ground, and in lieu of their attendance at the Summit. If a cost/benefit analysis is negative, then we should drop it.

4. Organizational representation should be preferred, with each ETHNIC GROUP (ie Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri) getting the same number of voting delegates NO MATTER THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS PER GROUP. I believe that Philip has been calling for precisely that, and so that should be firmed up without further delay. The suggestion of three voting delegates per ethnic group is appropriate (this could be increased if each ethnic group has more than three representing organizations, but I doubt it), although voting should be SERIOUSLY discouraged in the proceedings. The participation of Independents (from each of these groups) as well as Friends of the Delta (outside this group) is also appropriate.

5. Your suggestion about formulating an AGENDA from parallel simultaneous agenda is great. We may want to give each group one more opportunity at making an addition or two. But obviously, the Conference Agenda should be known ahead of time.

6. As for the Communique, I agree that the separate ones should be brought to the Summit and submitted there at the same time before massaging in Committe. That is only fair.

7. I am available in whatever capacity all deem fit.

Best wishes.

Bolaji Aluko