PROFESSOR AYITTEY SPEAKS ON SNC IN NIGERIA

Straight Talk to my Nigerian Brethren. When a crisis erupts in traditional Africa, the chief convenes a village meeting, puts the issue before the people to debate until a consensus is reached. Once reached, all, including the chief must abide by it. In 1990, this institution was modernized into a “sovereign national conference” (SNC) and used to democratize and resolve issues in many African countries. It began in Benin in 1990 and ended in South Africa (1991). Benin’s nine-day “sovereign national conference” began on 19 February 1990, with 488 delegates, representing various political, religious, trade union, and other groups encompassing the broad spectrum of Beninois society. South Africa employed the same vehicle – Convention for a Democratic South Africa or CODESA – in July 1991, with 228 delegates drawn from about 25 political parties and various anti-apartheid groups. It culminated in the election of Nelson Mandela in March 1994 – a two-year transition period.

Decisions taken by SNC are “sovereign,” meaning they are binding on all, including the head of state and cannot be abrogated by anyone, unlike the 1995 Constitutional conference, whose decisions were subject to the approval by the late General Sani Abacha – “The Butcher of Abuja.”
No need for elections; groups chose their own delegates. The political elite did not dominate SNCs in Benin, Cape Verde, South Africa or Zambia. Civic and interest groups such as teachers, students, farmers, etc. were represented. The operating ruling principle was CONSENSUS.

The SNC is the vehicle for Nigerians to take back their country. The SNC could set up an interim administration; a commission to re-write the 1999 Constitution to re-define Nigeria; sack the Police Chief, the Chief Justice and State Governors; clean up the administrative structure to ensure provision of basic social services like electricity, clean water, health care, etc; disband the military or cut it in half (the military has caused most of Nigeria’s problems); cut the salaries of MPs who take home a cool $2 million in salary and emoluments each; set up an anti-corruption commission with teeth; ease ethnic and religious tensions in the country, etc. etc. How long it takes is immaterial; it took Benin 9 days, South Africa 3 months.

You can’t leave Nigeria’s problems to the political elite l they won’t solve them. And Nigerians cannot run away from their problems. The influx of Nigerians into neighboring countries has reached a breaking point and creating disaffection among locals in host counries. Most West Africans would like to see Nigerians solve their own problems so that they can stay in their own country. Cameroon is reeling from a huge influx of Nigerians as Ghana does too. In fact, Ghana also has to contend with refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. All West Africans dread the possibility of a violent break-up of Nigeria. The population of Ghana, for example, is 25 million; the country cannot absorb an influx of 30 million Nigerian refugees in the event of a break-up.

A break-up of Nigeria will NOT be supported by any West African country; nor the rest of Africa. And if the political elite won’t solve the country’s problems, a sovereign national conference is the only alternative left. Follow the Benin’s model (next door) or South Africa’s. South Africa did not break up and descend into racial war because of SNC. This is straight talk.


Editor: Yesterday I posted an article on the much touted Sovereign National Conference. While taking it from the point of the fact that most people clamouring for one are doing so for selfish reasons, Professor George a renowned globally recognised Economist of Ghanaian origin above offers the best argument for one that shows a better and clearer path to one. If those who clamour for SNC in Nigeria would come out as Professor has done below, we might begin to appreciate the arguments for a Sovereign National Conference, other than the same elite politicians who are raping the country still looking for a platform to establish personal agendas clothed in ethnic garments.

Quite succinct. Could OP pl post the source.