Since the declaration by the federal government of it's intention to set up a committee to work out the modality of setting up a National Conference that will afford Nigerians the opportunity to talk and fashion the way forward, the polity as well as the media have being awash with reactions from all and sundry. Stakeholders and non-stakeholders alike.

Even those once thought to have opposed the convocation of such a conference in the past, seem now to have had a change of mind. The elite and politicians from the Northern part of Nigeria had long overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to the setting up of a SOVEREIGN National Conference,as canvassed by their counterparts in the South. It seems that the removal of the word 'Sovereign' is what bought them over this time round.

Nigerians have always sought opportunities to talk, and this isn't the first time an attempt is being made to bring Nigerians to the round table, unfortunately previous attempts (as recently as that during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo) became thwarted as the government of the day attempted to insert a clause that will see it perpetuated in power beyond the time constitutionally stipulated. All the lofty recommendations that came with that Conference was thrown out with the one that generated a lot of bad blood and a great opportunity was thus once again lost.

This time around, the sincerity of a government fighting for it's survival , to hold or supervise or promote a National Conference of ethnic nationalities is being called into question, especially as it's coming at a time it seems the government is clutching to every branch to keep itself afloat and buy cheap popularity preparatory to President Jonathan's perceived interest in running for reelection in the 2015 Presidential elections.

The fear that the National Conference will serve the purpose of those who want Nigeria to be divided into it's constituent units remain potent as always. This is one of the reasons canvassed by those who rejected the idea that such a National Conference be Sovereign. They also are of the view that the issue of the unity or indivisibility of Nigeria should remain off limits in the terms and references of the planned National Coherence.

Those opposed to the above claim that the aims of a National Conference will be defeated if there are 'No Go Areas', as those are infact the issues which if unresolved today will continue to gnaw at the innards of the Unity of the contraption called Nigeria.

The fact that this is coming up just weeks after the National Assembly concluded it's constitutional review exercise which saw legislators travel the length and breadth of the nation seeking inputs into what should form the core of the proposed amendments, show that the whole exercise was a failure as much as it was a charade. This is evidenced in the fact that most of the areas Nigerians asked for or were against, came upturned during debates at the National Assembly, while issues such as child marriage in relation to something entirely different recieved some attention to the chagrin of the people of Nigeria, who readily voiced their displeasure by protesting physically and via social media.

The Senate President, David Mark also voiced his support for the National Conference at the resumption of plenary, in a veiled attempt at accepting the failure of the National Assembly to meeting the yearnings of the people of Nigeria in their search for the way forward, in terms of building a Nigeria with a constitution that truly has the backing of the people, whose formulation is the people of Nigeria.

The truth is that, the Nigerian people as it were have never truly had a say in the way they want their country to be governed. They didn't even ask for Nigeria to be. Nigeria was fashioned to ease administration for the British colonialists by Lord Lugard who amalgamated the Northern part of it, to it's Southern part. The name however came from Lugard's mistress who later became his wife.

When power came to Nigerians at independence, again the voice of the people never mattered, leading to military incursions, who also at the end of the day never bothered to consult the people as to what they really wanted. Naturally, discontent set in, and today the Nigerian in the context in which a British or an American or Chinese sees himself does not exist, because he's first and foremost a citizen of his ethnic nationality before being a Nigerian (sometimes that follows a distance behind his religion).

The need then to talk has become a necessity, which only those who hate Nigeria and wish the prediction that the entity will break by 2015 come to pass, will oppose. It is however imperative that if Nigerians must talk, they must talk properly, with all options put on the table, and most importantly with political will and backing to ensure that all the ideas and recommendations mooted and adopted be without let and further dousing by the National Assembly codified and accepted as law and passed as such probably after a referendum is held to test their acceptance with Nigerians.

It is my hope that Nigerians won't let this chance slip again, as the consequences may be dire not necessarily if we fail to talk, but if we talk inadequately.

'kovich


THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND NIGERIA’S SEARCH FOR NATIONHOOD | madukovich's cogitations - http://madukovich./2013/10/06/the-national-conference-and-nigerias-search-for-nationhood/