Expectations From National Confab By next week, the much awaited National Conference will begin, which will last for three months. Various stakeholders, Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora are looking up to the conference to resolve most of the nation’s multifaceted challenges since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Sir Lord Lugard. We recall that on the occasion of the 53rd independence anniversary of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan in a nationwide broadcast announced an Advisory Committee mandated to establish modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity. PRESIDENT Jonathan said that the committee, which will have Dr. Femi Okurounmu as its Chairperson and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its Secretary will advise him on the scope and agenda for the national conference. WE welcome the decision of President Jonathan since it takes into cognizance suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue on the future of our beloved country. There is consensus that there has been discontentment in the land. The discontentment and alienation has fueled extremism, apathy and even predictions of catastrophe for the country. This means that, if one united Nigeria is still cherished, the bases for such unity must be negotiated and agreed upon. WE must be quick to point that the conference must not be the soap opera that was organized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo or Abdulsalami Abubakar which select friends and well wishers were the attendees. WE are also in agreement with Mr. President that “when there are issues that constantly stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.” We are also glad that the Senate President, David Mark who is well known opponent of a national conference with the argument that “there cannot be a sovereign within a sovereign,” was the harbinger of the President Jonathan’s announcement. Mark, while welcoming senators from their seven-week annual vacation, said “every matter about the union of ethnic groups that made up the country should be opened to discussion but warned that the dismemberment of the country should be a no-go area for the conference.” Aside the unity of Nigeria which everyone seems to be alluding to, we believe that there should be no restrictions as to the issues to be discussed by the conference. Even at that, we believe that Nigerians must be in agreement to remain as one indivisible entity. Nobody can force a union that so many have questioned in the country on the people. That should be the beginning point of discussions. If at the end of the discussions, Nigerians from various backgrounds decide to go their separate ways peacefully, no one should halt them. Professor Ango Abdulahi, Spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum has said the north is not afraid of a break up. Chief Uwazuruike of MASSOB has offered their willingness to go their own way. The people of Oduduwa, have equally aired their position. Nigerians know the benefits of our diversity but we must agree as a people to continue with the union or not. SECONDLY, if we agree to remain as one Nigeria, we must also look at the current structure if we are satisfied with the military balkanized country. Thirty six states, with only four viable is not sustainable. The conference must review and agree on either a return to the 1963 constitution that provides for regional government or a reviewed structure of such, so that with or without crude oil, the regions can survive. We also recommend that the local government structure should be discussed. We cannot continue with military contrived states or whatever nomenclature the federating units may assume should determine how many local governments or counties they can sustainably put in place, perhaps through a plebiscite after the conference. THIRDLY, we expect a loose federation if Nigeria is to remain one at the end of the day, whereby the regions or states will observe strictly the true fiscal federalism, producing and generating their incomes and paying an agreed percentage to the centre. We believe that for sustainable economic productivity and faster development, we must make the centre less attractive to avoid the “do or die” politics currently witnessed at the centre. There should be devolution of powers to the federating regions or states to further make the centre less attractive. FOURTHLY, parliamentary system of government is desirable for a country like Nigeria because, the presidential system of government is very expensive to maintain. Good enough the Edo State contingent to the conference is proposing part-time parliamentarians. Interestingly too, Nigeria has experimented this system in its early days post- independence and could jolly well return to the arrangement haven tasted the expensive presidential system as well. LASTLY on expectations at the conference proper, Nigerians look forward to a new constitution at the end of the day if they agree to be one or a number of constitutions for the number of countries that may emerge. We believe that if transparently and honestly executed, the planned conference would resolve once and for all the myriad of problems buffeting the Nigerian state.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 09:20:00 +0000
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