THE PROPOSED NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM BY ISU, SMART ELUU

THE PROPOSED NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

Compiled By Isu, Smart E.

Sequel to the proposed National Conference by Mr. President (Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan), the Federal Government recently released the working document for the National Conference, and part of that document states indisputably that Nigeria's Indivisibility and Indissolubility is not an area to be talked about at the conference.

This is to say that Nigeria's Unity is not to be discussed, non-negotiable and will remain one country despite the ethnic, religious and political marginalization, ethnic dissatisfaction and killings of innocent souls.

But, Nigeria can be re-negotiated for Unity and Love, Peace and Progress as her motto professes if only we (leaders in the Local, State and Central Levels and you common man) can say the simple-bitter truth about Nigeria and ourselves, that we are not united, in peace and in love as said; but under pretence just for short-term benefits for/from those in Government/Authority/Power. It is because we have failed to face the reality all these years that we are assembling at the Conference table to talk about our Agreement/Disagreement.

The real agenda, what should come to the front burner at this conference should be to discuss whether we want Nigeria together or not and how.  We must for the benefit of all and, basically to protect the future, to disallow Nigeria from violence disintegration allow ethnic groups to talk about how they want to remain one indivisible country.

I am a promoter, a true believer in one Nigeria, but a Nigeria that recognizes ones freedom, ones incontrovertible right as a citizen anywhere he/she chooses to settle down with members of the family and worship in whatever way they deem fit, whether in Ozizza, Imo, Afikpo, Aba, Ijaw, Igala, Hausa, Yoruba or to remain a Pagan without any form of molestation by individual or group of individuals of any section of the Country.  

We are historically, economically, socially, politically and geographically aware that Nigeria was fused by the white-men for their/his own (Luggard’s) selfish and economic gains, people who didn't understand or care about our Culture, Religion or bothered to ask our ancestors the possibility of whether they would like to stay together under one country to be called Nigeria or not.

Since this dubious amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914, we have never had it so good. But thanks be to God it all comes to an end on 1^st January, 2014 marking it 100 Years of the marriage and according to international law, “A treaty between two or more countries to be joined as a Country, legally expires after 100 years of their existence as Nationhood and may decide to or not to stay any longer.   

I am therefore saying under a Democratic Atmosphere that there is no discussion that would be done at the conference without allowing the ethnic nationalities to openly agree or disagree staying together as a country, it is on this hypothesis that other discussions would built upon.

I simple called Nigeria, A white-man’s–Nigeria; and not Nigeria's’-Nigeria because the stakeholders (we) were not consulted before merging the three major different entities with different notions and motives of life.

However, the National Conference as proposed and deemed necessary by Jonathan’s government is a golden opportunity to make it Nigeria's-Nigeria (Ours). And we cannot afford to blow this opportunity to Re-build Nigeria, to Re-organize and Re-position it to truly be the hope of Africa in the economic and political world record.

Let’s purse and ponder on these words of a supposed Literary Noble Prize Winner of the 1986 (Prof. Chinua Achebe) in his last book full of wisdom and foresight for future Nigeria titled “THERE WAS A COUNTRY”. Which Country? Nigeria? South Africa? Answer this for yourself. (But do not forget so soon a saying which says that “the words of elders are words of WISDOM”) Perhaps, Prof. has one for a new united state of Nigeria or why he titled the book as such….

There is no doubt we are still disunited, we are not one nation with a common destiny. This is the reason we must re-negotiate this country's unity because a section of the country believes that it is their birth right to govern and not to be governed, that their religion is supreme to others, they are still making comments to support this spiritless argument while some section are seen as merchants by birth thus, cannot govern for all through their live times and some section are seen ready to sabotage or support any winning section. So, these and many other reasons are why we must discuss Nigeria's unity once and for all, now or then (Before 2015 or After 2015) It is not true when people allege that discussing the unity of Nigeria means waving bye-bye to Nigeria; rather it would afford us the opportunity to discuss all the ingredients that would make us stronger in love, unity, dedicated to our common destiny (God wishing).

Of course, if we decide at the conference to go our different ways for peace to exist among nations, SO BE IT, there is no Region that cannot stand on their own. Till date, England and Scotland are still discussing and would put to vote at a future date whether to remain as United Kingdom or go their separate ways. Moreso, Pakistan pulled out of India, Eritrea from Ethiopia. So, it is not a new thing in the world if that would usher in Stability, Peace, Love and Progress among Ethnics of the Nation.

The Federal Government must therefore, be encouraged to seek for a lasting solution in a more holistic approach to the numerous problems facing Nigeria and her inhabitants. Since deciding after many years of intense pressure to convene the national conference, we must be seen eager to get it right-that Nigeria's unity will be discussed accords the conference with a lot of credibility and makes it a success at the onset.

Delegates at the conference should and must be given the freedom to discuss the unity of Nigeria, let us allow and encourage every group to bring its Pain, Anger and Frustration before others for debate and analysis, agreement and disagreement. The Boko-Haram insurgence, MASSOB's clamour, Odua's self determination, Niger Delta resource control, etc. all boils down to how, if we must stay in Nigeria as one nation. So, the national conference discussing the unity of Nigeria must top the agenda if we really mean to get it right.

Lastly, the agreed outcome of the conference should be subjected to a referendum. The people must be given the right to vote Yes or No to the final document that will emerge at the end of the conference; it makes it widely acceptable to majority of Nigerians. We must not allow the outcome from the National Conference to go through another debate or tampered with by individual or group of individuals for any personal or group reason (s).

Let the outcome be delivered to both Low and High Classes of Nigerians without any alteration from any sector of government for the people to vote For or Against.  No conference outcome would be forced down the esophagus of common Nigerians, they must be allowed to have a say in agreement or disagreement, in other words, the agreed document coming out of the conference must be subjected to the will of the people for transparency and Democratic purposes.

Long Live Present Nigeria! Long Live New Nigeria!! Long Live Future Nigeria!!!