Nigeria’s diversity and the thirst for a sovereign national conference

Musa_Falae_and_Ezeife

With over 250 tribes, about 510 languages and two major religions, Nigeria has survived many socio-political and ethno-

With over 250 tribes, about 510 languages and two major religions, Nigeria has survived many socio-political and ethno-religious conflicts.  However, with the recent crises rocking the nation, some Nigerians have renewed their call for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, writesLEKE BAIYEWU

Groups and individuals from different backgrounds have been calling for a Sovereign National Conference since Nigeria’s democracy began in 1999.

While some say it will facilitate proper management and equal distribution of the nation’s wealth, others feel a return to the regional system of government will protect the interests of all geo-political zones.

Last week, notable Nigerians under the aegis of the National Summit Group, at a meeting convened by a frontline economists and politician, Prof. Pat Utomi, in Lagos renewed the call for a national conference where Nigerians will dialogue on the way out of the challenges facing the country.

They also used the forum to canvass for true federalism.

Just before the NSG meeting, a group, the Committee of Concerned Nigerians, had said an SNC was the only way to save Nigeria from collapse.

This position was made known in a statement by over 60 eminent Nigerians.

The committee had said, “We call on the people of Nigeria and all patriotic forces to continue networking and joining hands to immediately begin a process that must lead to the convocation of a national conference.

“This conference must end in a comprehensive restructuring of the federation such that it would prevent Nigeria from experiencing what was experienced in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria between 1967 and 1970, or is being experienced in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

At the NSG event, Utomi said Nigerians no longer trusted their leaders because of long abandonment and profligacy.

“Therefore, at a time like this, the country needs to sit down to discuss how we are going to move forward,” he said.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, accused the military of damaging the true federalism Nigerians once enjoyed.

“We had a federal covenant in 1960 which the military took away. We must find the covenant again and the only way to do this is through a national conference because there is only one sovereignty and it resides with the people. If they don’t want us to have a sovereign conference we will continue to gather in this way as it will serve as our moving train,” he said.

In his submission, a former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, recalled when responsible and accountable leaders, who took people’s well-being seriously, governed Nigeria. These attributes, he said, could not be found in the current leaders

“First Republic leaders were conservative but they were nationalistic, credible and dignified. However, today’s leaders, despite the claim of sophistication, have nothing to offer us in terms of credible leadership. That is the root of our crises. In spite of our riches, we are one of the poorest on the continent, ravaged by disease, poverty and illiteracy. The only way forward is to go back to the beginning where we have started so that we can start all over to build a country of our dream,” he said.

For prominent lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, the country is faced with fundamental challenges that could lead to anarchy. According to him, there is no substitute for a roundtable to discuss the nation’s unity.

On January 26, 2012, a notable pro-democracy group, National Democratic Coalition, made a similar call on President Goodluck Jonathan to convene a national conference.

The NADECO Chairman, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd), who spoke at a forum in Lagos, had said such a conference was a necessity in view of the challenges facing Nigeria.

He however warned, “Let it be known from all observable signals and assessments that what is being witnessed now will be a child’s play, if we do not quickly hold a national conference. We wish not, we pray not, but it will obviously be so if we confer not.”

The group’s secretary, Chief Ayo Opadokun, corroborated Kanu, saying, “Events in the last three months in Nigeria calls for concern and we cannot afford to fold our arms while the nation boils.”

Before the calls by the NSG, CCN and NADECO, a non-alliance pro-democracy body, National Consensus Group, headed by a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, had specifically advocated a ‘People’s Constitution’ through a ‘National Constitutional Convention.’ This, it said, would facilitate a popularly negotiated law for Nigeria.

Some of the members who reached the conclusion included a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh; a  veteran lawmaker, Senator Uche Chukwumerije; a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. George Obiozor; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ozekhome; and a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife.

Aside from the current menace by Boko Haram sect, other national issues like true federalism, Islamic banking, creation of states, revenue sharing formula, and constitution amendment are issues these analysts said should be discussed.

A foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, told SUNDAY PUNCH that an SNC was the only way out.  According to him, Nigeria’s federalism is dysfunctional because it was put together by the military under a military constitution.

The SAN added, “Everyone is tired of this tight and strangulating coexistence. Under the regional system of government, power will be shared among ethnic-based federal units. The 1999 Constitution is a suffocating constitution; it is a unitary constitution. Under this new system of government, there will be no struggle for the centre, unlike what we have now, where the race for the presidency is a matter of life and death; where it is a do or die affair.”

Corroborating Sagay was a Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, Dr. Saleh Dauda. Dauda said Nigeria needed an SNC because its stability was being threatened by Boko Haram.

He said, “For the fact that Boko Haram is being sponsored by some personalities who want Islamic states, the SNC is long overdue. I am certain there are some forces in the North who support Boko Haram.”

He however added that he did not support splitting the country along any lines.

Ezeife’s position was however partly different from Sagay’s. According to him, the conference should not be ‘sovereign.’

He said, “I believe a non-sovereign national conference is mandatory, if we still desire one Nigeria. What makes it non-sovereign is that the conference must not interfere with the incumbent government. Whatever they (the conference) do must be effective after expiration of the current tenure.”

He proposed federating units in the six geo-political zones, each with a premier; regional police but national army and governors for the states in each zone.

Ezeife added, “This system will address most of our problems, if not all.”