It is acceptable that when a situation is overpoweringly getting out of control,unsuspecting people mostly youths and students are being killed by insurgents more frequently than ever before in the history of this country,any attempt by the existing government to embark upon a seemingly diversionary agenda called National conference will attract fierce criticism-that those who advocate for the so-called conference are wicked and heartless.However,Nigeria has never found an appropriate time to organize this kind of conference than now.The reasons are not far fetch.The country is at crossfire .the unprecedented level of insecurity that is threatening the country is just a symptom of one countrys defect.Already the insurgency in the north-east is being seen elsewhere as a conspiracy ,so there is mistrust among Nigerians,a mistrust that developed as a result of long years of manipulation by the educated elites of the country.Another reason is the question of national cake.One section of the country felt that it has been short-changed due to unjust distribution of national resources under a federal system.Some people reason that the federal government is too powerful that there is too much concentration of power at the centre and there is need for devolution of the power.So there are are so many legitimate concern of Nigerians that need to be sorted out amicably. However,the debate on the legality of the conference that this is a function of our National assembly is not sufficient to outlaw the conference because already a consensus has been reached that the outcome of the conference will be forwarded to the national assembly for ratification.The National assembly cannot stop Nigerians from discussing the future of their country.To me Nigerians have every right to chart a new course for their country.Nigerians decided to bypass the National assembly due to the insensitivity of most of the members there.These people for many years have failed to resolve any of many contentious issue.Now Nigerians have decided that they can do what their representatives failed to do in many years. It is obvious now that the conference will hold rain or shine.We need this conference to save the country from doldrums.The Social cohesion of Nigeria is weakened,there has not been any serious national integration.Many Nigerians are not patriotic.We dont think of Nigeria first.Nigerians consider their ethnicity and region or religion first.We still talk of south,north or middle belt.Nobody cares about our coat of arms,our national anthem and pledge or national flag.Nigerians think these are mere inanimate objects.With this mind-set we can never forge a strong and viable nation.Iam yet to see a nation that attain serious development without patriotism.U.S.A.,Britain,France,Japan,China,German have developed not because of anything but patriotism.Our prayer is that ,those who will represent us during the conference will put the country first before their tribal or selfish interest. Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:31:55 +0000