Immediately the president on independence day announced readiness and interest in National Conference, it has immediately started generating heat form all corners of the federation. The most paramount question from all is 1. who is the rightful representative of the people? 2. where will the people meet? 3. how wont this great opportunity be hijacked by politicians and thereby the country goes back to square one?

Even though many has criticized the president on the timing, no one has condemned the necessity of the National Dialogue. As i quite agree with the president, i consider this an opportunity for all Nigerians to speak out. Those who exercise fear over the timing and members of the committee and representative of the people are only worrisome of the success of the event and thus that of the country. Truly the success of the National dialogue lies in the hands of the committee handling it and the presidency to implement it after the dialogue.

Firstly i want to clarify that Nigeria is mapped and recognized constitutionally politically. Either by state boundaries, LGAs, constituencies wards and if you like streets (though some of this mappings are tribal based but is not pronounced in representation at national level). One of the lack of success of Nigeria as a whole is failure to recognize Nigeria and Nigerians beyond this structure. Nigeria consists of many tribes and that is our greatest point of division but if harnessed properly is our greatest strength.

It will be unreasonable for the National Conference committee to call for representatives from this political structure to represent the people as that is what we already have in the National Assembly and yet people are not satisfied. It will be wise and very reasonable if Nigerians are also recognized along their tribes which is our strong hold and also along their profession since political decisions affect a lot of professions and occupations and since there are several professional bodies in Nigeria. Every time there is a riot or chaos some where, it usually has a tribal undertone. Every time, Northern Muslims riot against others, they don't spare even Muslims of other tribes. Even here on Nairaland, tribalism is crystal clear in every discussion. Now, rather that see it as a problem, why don't we harness it?

Professions and professional bodies cannot be exempted form problems of this country. Example is the ASUU strike, Labour strike, Aviation Industry problems (plane crashes), Doctors strike, even students unrest and many more. Therefore professional bodies should be given opportunity to participate in the National Conference as well. In Nigeria of today, almost every occupation has a union or body. Even traders, mechanics, barbers, Actors and Actresses, Musicians and all manners of business people have one common body or the other. This is a good means to reach these people who form part of Nigeria. The representation of professional bodies are usually not a problem as they have their leadership in persons of their president, secretary etc. They also usually have a national and state secretariats where they meet or can be met. therefore, they can easily communicate with their members to air their views and stands on the National Conference.

Having recognized Nigerians along their Political, Tribal and professional divides, this should be my suggested mode of operation of the national Conference;

1. Let every tribe gather where ever they wish in their region. Traditional rulers are best leader of any tribe. Let every tribe gather at the palace of their traditional ruler and discuss their National Conference there. Since the speak the same language, communication wouldn't be difficult. They may also share the same feeling and opinion about Nigeria. After the meeting, they can read a communique and points they have raised to the hearing of everybody there and perhaps hand a copy to members present and then forward a copy to the national conference committee.

2. Professional bodies should meet with their leaders at their secretariats to discuss the same matter and come out with their own communique as well. copies should be given to members and original forwarded to the National Conference Committee either by mail or by had delivery.

3. The National Conference committee should collate all submitted communique and publish them perhaps on their website so that ever group, tribe and organization that has submitted a communique can compare what they have in their hand to what the National Conference committee publishes to be sure the original copy and content was received as they discussed it and also to be able to read what other tribe, body and professions are saying.

4. The National Conference committee then collate and filter the communiques. Though there would be millions all together, but after filtering, you will realize a lot of similarities in the demand and stand point of the people and you will probably be left with just one hundred points.

With this you have saved time and money and every Nigerian will feel they've represented themselves and truly you would have gathered information across Nigeria with ease.

My submission is that what brought us together as a nation since 1914, 1960, 1966, 1999 and till date has NOT been the same. Our unity has been and is still being questioned everyday and therefore, there is need to review our course and cause of unity every time and therefore, National Conference should be made to law and should be organized every 7years or any time frame considered good to check and ratify our common interest to co-exist as a nation and ratify matters before they get out of hands. if this were the case, we wouldn't be having insurgencies, as people would wait for the next national conference to voice out and since they would be heard and their case looked into, there wouldn't be need to carry arms.

The National Assembly is just a political representation of the people. Nigeria is joined together beyond politically. As said, we are joined together also by tribe and Profession. A true National Assembly should not have two tiers of common structure and composite members but rather 3 tiers of Political, Tribal and professional (federal govt doesn't need to be responsible for the up keep of the 3 tiers as their members should cater for them and thus will be the only way they would be loyal to their people and their voice should count as part of National Assembly and Nation building). The meeting of all the 3 tiers once in 7years should be the NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

If we can get it right, we will be a role model for the world and we will be the most stable country politically as we will be constantly consulting with all the people that matters and issues will never escalate.

Our greatest strength in our Unity. United we stand, divided we fall. We will be most mocked if we go one another's way. Smaller African countries can now look us in the face in our broken state and till then shall we value out togetherness. Lets correct the wrong rather than split the house.

Long live Nigeria.

i beg to know if there are other better ways.