Nigeria is a
multi-ethnic nation with over 250 ethnic groups. The Nigerian people have been
living together long time ago even before the independence by the British in
1960. But the issue of social and economic wellbeing has always been the
dividing line and bone of contention. Some tribes have been perceived to be
more favored than others in terms of resource sharing formula and this has
called for various national conferences in the past especially among the Igbos
and South South. The Biafran war led by the late General Ojukwu Odumegu in 1967
was a proof of this perceived inequality and marginalization among these
groups. But the Nigerian state as remained one despite all
these challenges. Is
this oneness real or just a hypocritical one.
Where do we go
from here? How do we go? Should we continue to remain one? How do we handle the
sharing of our natural and mineral resources? Who and who should bring what to
the table as the national cake etc? All these have been some of the major
questions asking by Nigerians since independence.
The term CONFERENCE has never been new to
Nigerians but the type of conference has always been the problem. Should it be
National Conference or Debate? Some clamor that it should be a Sovereign
National Conference, where the existing Federal Constitution is likely to be
put on hold and substituted with a new one if our unity as a nation can still
goes on. Or just a national dialogue among all ethnic representatives in which
their final agreement will be transferred to the existing National Assembly for
ratification? Will this agendum not divide the country as it happened in Sudan,
West and East Germany and as it is allegedly declared by the United States
comes 1914?
Many questions
but few answers. Where do we go from here? General Olusegun Obasanjo organized
one conference during his tenure but the outcome of this conference is nowhere
to be found today. Another group led by Late Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro-PRONACO
– The Pro-National Conference Coalition –
continue to push for a Sovereign National Conference and organize, if
necessary, a parallel conference to Obasanjo's NPRC. All to no avail. Prof Pat
Utomi also joined in this agitation in the recent time but to nowhere to go.
Some quarters especially
among the Igbos and Ijaws believe that the reasons of the past failure of
conferences can be traced to the Northerners. That an average Northerners is
scared of our breakup. That since they have almost nothing they contribute to
the Centre in terms valuable resources, they would always strive to squash any
conference agenda. There is also a claim among the Northerners that they were
the ones feeding the entire Nigeria with their farm produce and income especially
the Groundnut before the discovery of the Oil back in the 70s. That why should
this one be different now that it is the turn of the South to feed the nation?
Still many questions but few answers.
As part of the
independence speech, President Good luck Jonathan announced a new committee
that will pave the way for another national dialogue. This has been accepted
from various quarters with mixed feelings and sentiment especially among the
opposition parties. Will this succeed and open way for the Nigeria of our
dream- where true federalism will be seen practised, where every state can
boast of her Police Force as we have in developed nations, where every state
will discover and manage her resources for the growth, development and general
wellbeing of her people and only contribute her quota to the Centre etc? Will
this also die on arrival? Will President Jonathan make history with this as we
are gradually seeing in the privatization process of the Power sector Or is it
the beginning of the end of a nation called Nigeria? What benefit will our
division bring to our tables per adventure it happens? Still many questions but
few answers. Let us wait and see.
GOD BLESS
NIGERIA
ADENUGA BABATUNDE
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