First, I must state my position as far as Nigeria is concerned. I am a strong believer in a united Nigeria. We cannot continue to blame our economic, political and social failures on the diversity of Nigeria. There is strength in diversity.
The national conference as I want to think is not a platform to talk about secession by issuing threat, like the Lamido Adamawa threatening to secede to neighbouring Cameroon if anything happens to Nigeria. The conference allows regions and ethnic groups to express their grievances in an articulated form and give reasons for their grievances.
The danger of such threat particularly from a Northern state will not help the current security situation being faced by the nation and it will also give people from the South-South an opportunity to seek autonomy. The delegates must realise that as far as the conference is concerned, they are still Nigerians and must defend the unity of the country no matter how sad their situation is.
The country can never split at the end of the conference and as such they will all leave the conference as Nigerians. Certain threats should not be allowed to rock the floor of the conference and incite those watching events as they unfold. It is only when a country faces total anarchy and become governable that such comments can come from individuals or groups. Despite the threat from Boko Haram, Nigeria is still very united and peaceful.
The national conference should rather address the social and political issues and the security threat facing the country right now rather than focus on splitting the country. We should take example from Sudan that is our neighbour. They went into a protracted civil war and eventually settled for a referendum and separated to become an independent country called South Sudan.
Today, South Sudan has been plunged into civil war. The people have not been able to enjoy the dividends of autonomy and independence. It is only when a country’s internal sovereignty has been threatened by ethnic, religious and social issues and becomes ungovernable that we can call for a referendum to decide whether we want to stay together as one country or split. Nigeria is currently far from that situation. The people of the country are still law abiding. The day
to day governance and our enduring democracy is steadily improving, so we shouldn’t clamour for secession.
to day governance and our enduring democracy is steadily improving, so we shouldn’t clamour for secession.We should rather use the conference to address the concerns and fears among all the ethnic groups and find a lasting solution on how we can be united for good and live together within the ambits of our constitution. Lamido of Adamawa’s statement is a big threat to the unity of our country and must be resisted. I am quite sure that this threat doesn’t usually get the support of the ordinary people in those areas.
to address the concerns and fears among all the ethnic groups and find a lasting solution on how we can be united for good and live together within the ambits of our constitution. Lamido of Adamawa’s statement is a big threat to the unity of our country and must be resisted. I am quite sure that this threat doesn’t usually get the support of the ordinary people in those areas.The conference can address the issue of secession and everyone is free to make their contribution and express their mandates as agreed by the people of the region or ethnicity that they represent. In doing so, the delegates must be aware that they are addressing the people of the whole country and as such, threats and statements that can raise negative incitation should be avoided.
the issue of secession and everyone is free to make their contribution and express their mandates as agreed by the people of the region or ethnicity that they represent. In doing so, the delegates must be aware that they are addressing the people of the whole country and as such, threats and statements that can raise negative incitation should be avoided.There are better ways to express regional fears and worries without flaring anger from your neighbour. We must know that every statement or comment from any region during the conference will be written in history and some can affect some regions negatively without any further opportunity to clear any seed of discord that may have been planted in the minds of other regions being targeted.
I know many of my people from the South-South who do not agree with my position that living together as Nigerians will benefit them. The biggest problem we even have in terms of development in the Niger Delta region is majorly caused by corruption on the part of our own Niger Delta leaders.
The question we must ask ourselves as people of the oil-rich Niger Delta is: Should we become a country, what will change in terms of political leadership in the area? Every ethnic nationality and group is free to kick start the ember of disunity and dismemberment because in doing so, you must give a good reason why you want to secede. It is the reason that will be given by these groups that the conference should look at and find a recommendation that the government should implement. Once you are able to tackle the problems of those regions, I see no reason why they will not agree to the current marriage of Nigeria.
the ember of disunity and dismemberment because in doing so, you must give a good reason why you want to secede. It is the reason that will be given by these groups that the conference should look at and find a recommendation that the government should implement. Once you are able to tackle the problems of those regions, I see no reason why they will not agree to the current marriage of Nigeria.The conference is a platform to air regional and group grievances, give reasons for those grievances and the conference should proffer solutions to those grievance according to the region affected. Contrary to the opinion of many people, I still believe that there is no region in Nigeria that can live in isolation. Thanks to God, every region is endowed with natural and mineral resources capable of taking care of its own people.
It is the government’s focus on oil as the mainstay of the nation’s economy that has reduced the potential of many regions to discover and harness their God given resources. But with issues proper implementation of true fiscal federalism, the government of all the regions will discover their true endowment to sustain their economic needs.
their God given resources. But with issues proper implementation of true fiscal federalism, the government of all the regions will discover their true endowment to sustain their economic needs.
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