There is so much jaw-jawing. What we need is an action towards the realisation of the SNC, Sovereign National Conference. This thread is intended to be a catalyst to that. Please post any material you can lay hands on that has been made in favour of the SNC as well as your views about it. Also we can discuss modalities for the conference and address the fears of those scared about it. Hopefully it will get to the powers that be and enable the Federal and states houses of Assembly to pass an enabling law for it.

, Nigeria is already disintegrating – Soyinka
On January 25, 2012 · In News , Email4
By Prisca Sam-Duru
LAGOS — Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said, yesterday, that despite the fact that there is no formal break up of the country, the nation was already disintegrating due to the refusal of the government to embrace national dialogue.

Soyinka said this while speaking on “The quest for justice, tolerance and non-violent change” at a presentation highlighting Dr Martin Luther King jr and the American civil rights movement, organised by the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General in Lagos at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

According to him, “the presidential system of government is totally unfitted to the governance of Nigerians. The legislators have become a bastion of corruption while the system operational in the country encourages corruption.”

Soyinka, who maintained his stance on Sovereign National Conference as panacea to salvaging Nigeria from total collapse said: “We can even remove the word sovereign, there is need for national dialogue because if we don’t have a national dialogue, we will have monologues. Public detonators are monologues, Boko Haram is a hyper active secession by their expelling people in some states, purging it of the people who they believe don’t share their ideologies.


Dr.Joe Okei-Odumakin, Prof.Wole Soyinka and Past.Tunde Bakare during A Town Hall Meeting by the Save Nigeria Group and Allies in Lagos
“Zamfara State, during the last tenure of government, led in declaring itself a theocratic state and had some other states joining. Those are monologues. Despite loss of lives and traumatisation, the cravings for the emancipation of Blacks were a remarkable struggle on the part of the American civil rights as their struggle for justice, peace and equity paid off.

“What we have now is not a constitution because it was handed over to us by a bunch of neocolonialists in military uniform; they worked out that constitution. So, we need a single constitution binding all major issues in the country.”

Soyinka, who noted that the recent industrial action by civil societies and Labour was a necessary struggle for justice and prosperity, also cited the Nigerian civil war as a clear case of quest for justice and equity on the part of Biafrans, pointing out that although he is not strictly pro-Biafra, he was against the injustice meted on Biafrans since it is morally right to want to secede.

He also recounted the degradation that existed during the segregation of Blacks not only in the Western world but here in Nigeria during British rule which regrettably, he argued, is still existing among Nigerians.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/nigeria-is-already-disintegrating-soyinka-2/

. . .S’East, S’South leaders warn against military coup

From GODWIN TSA, Abuja

Friday January 13, 2012





The Elders and Leaders of the South-East and the South-South have warned against any undemocratic attempt to overthrow the government of President Goodluck Jonathan in the wake of the sustained nation-wide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The group alleged that the current protest against the removal of fuel subsidy is a smokescreen to perfect the ploy to make the country ungovernable for Mr. President.

This has been a promise made publicly, by some politicians who lost out during the last presidential election. Led by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, the forum however urged the Federal Government to start considering the idea of convening a national conference which it said would offer the component units of the country an opportunity to discuss solution to the fragile unity of Nigeria.

Clark, in a press conference after the South-South elders meeting, in Abuja, said all Nigerians are equal since Nigeria was founded on equal federating units, a reason he said the south-south condemned the turn of events in which a section of Nigeria, most especially the north feels that it owns Nigeria more than the other sections of the country. He said the recent development in Nigeria with the menace of Boko Haram and the threat to the government of the day by some faceless cabal have necessitated the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference for Nigerians to determine whether or not they want Nigeria to remain as a nation or face a break up.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum condemned in its entirety what it described as unprovoked killings and destruction of property and the ultimatum given to Christians and southerners to leave the northern parts of Nigeria as this is against the spirit, content and intent of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.“That in the event the present crisis degenerates to a point of unmanageable catastrophe as that is clearly the intention of the patrons and sponsors of the present imbroglio, we wish to state unequivocally that no section of this country can escape the ugly outcome of the ensuing crisis as it would do no one any good.

It is their resolve that “if any part of the country feels that it is time for us to rethink the basis of our unity as a country, we wish to state our preparedness to sit with other Nigerians to renegotiate the basis of our continued existence as a country.
“That we wish to remind Mr. President of the sacred constitutional duty of protection of lives and property he swore to uphold and call on him to take every necessary step to safeguard the lives of all Nigerians who in the belief of one united Nigeria are merely seeking means of livelihood in parts of the country other than their home states.

“That while we commend the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the continued maintenance of peace and security in the country, we hereby state unequivocally that any attempt at undemocratic change in the country will be fully resisted. Any such perpetrator shall have no country to preside over.“That we appeal to organized labour, civil society groups and government to embrace dialogue to bring the current pains of Nigerians to an end as soon as possible.”

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2012/jan/13/national-13-01-2011-002.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/wole-soyinka-on-nigeria-s-anti-christian-terror-sect-boko-haram.html
The Butchers Of Nigeria
Jan 16, 2012 12:00 AM EST How a corrupt nation bred Boko Haram, the Islamic sect terrorizing the country’s Christians.
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  Over the past year, Nigeria’s homegrown terror group Boko Haram has escalated its deadly attacks against Christian and government targets, with the aim of establishing a Sharia state in the country’s north.
Nearly 30 years ago, in the largely Christian heartland of a multireligious Nigerian nation, and at that nation’s pioneer institution—the University of Ibadan—a minister of education summoned the vice chancellor and ordered him to remove a cross from a site dedicated to religious worship. Some Muslims had complained, he claimed, that the cross offended their sight when they turned east to pray.
The don’s response was: “Mr. Minister, it would be much easier to remove me as vice chancellor than to have me remove that cross.” Christians mobilized. A religious war was barely averted on campus. Today the Christian cross occupies that same spot, with the Islamic star and crescent raised only a few meters away. As I observed at a lecture several years later, there has been no earthquake beneath, no convulsions of the firmament above that space, no blight traceable to the cohabitation of that spot by Christian and Muslim symbols.
I evoked that occurrence when the latest torch bearers of fanaticism—a group called Boko Haram—emerged. I did so to draw attention to the fact that religious zealotry is not new in the nation, nor is it limited to the “unwashed masses” who have been programmed into killing, at the slightest provocation or none, in the name of faith. Unfortunately, far too many have succumbed to the belligerent face of fanaticism, believing that any form of excess is divinely sanctioned and nationally privileged.
Sectarian killings—numbered in the thousands—preceded Boko Haram, much organized butch-ery, sometimes announced in advance, always tacitly endorsed by silence and inaction, escalating in intensity and impunity. It was consciousness of the geographical expansion and the increasingly organized nature of the fanatic surge and its international linkages that compelled me to warn on three public occasions since 2009 that “the agencies of Boko Haram, its promulgators both in evangelical and violent forms, are everywhere. Even here, right here in this throbbing commercial city of Lagos, there are, in all probability, what are known as ‘sleepers’ waiting for the word to be given. If that word were given this moment, those sleepers would swarm over the walls of this college compound and inundate us.”

A car bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja on December 25, 2011. It was one of five Christmas Day bombings at churches in Nigeria. , Afolabi / Reuters-Landov
Much play is given, and rightly so, to economic factors—unemployment, misgovernment, wasted resources, social marginalization, massive corruption—in the nurturing of the current season of violent discontent. To limit oneself to these factors alone is, however, an evasion, no less than intellectual and moral cowardice, a fear of offending the ruthless caucuses that have unleashed terror on society, a refusal to stare the irrational in the face and give it its proper name—and response. That minister was not one of the “unwashed masses.” He was, quite simply, the polished face of fanaticism. His prolonged career as secretary of the Universities Commission and minister of education inflicted on the nation a number of other policies of educational separatism that left a huge swath of Nigeria open to fanatic indoctrination.
Yes, indeed, economic factors have facilitated the mass production of these foot soldiers, but they have been deliberately bred, nurtured, sheltered, rendered pliant, obedient to only one line of command, ready to be unleashed at the rest of society. They were bred in madrassas and are generally known as the almajiris. From knives and machetes, bows and poisoned arrows they have graduated to AK-47s, homemade bombs, and explosive-packed vehicles. Only the mechanism of inflicting death has changed, nothing else.
This horde has remained available to political opportunists and criminal leaders desperate to stave off the day of reckoning. Most are highly placed, highly disgruntled, and thus highly motivated individuals who, having lost out in the power stakes, resort to the manipulation of these products of warped fervor. Their aim is to bring society to its knees, to create a situation of total anarchy that will either break up the nation or bring back the military, which ruled Nigeria in a succession of coups between the mid-1960s and the late ’90s. Again and again they have declared their blunt manifesto—not merely to Islamize the nation but to bring it under a specific kind of fundamentalist strain. Rather than act in defense of Nigeria’s Constitution, past rulers have cosseted the aggressors for short-term political gains. However, those who have tweaked the religious chord are discovering that they have conjured up a Frankenstein. Arrogance has given way to fear. The former governors of the northern states of Gombe and Borno wasted no time in issuing full-page advertorials in the media, apologizing to Boko Haram when the latter issued threats against them for their alleged role in the deaths of the group’s members at the hands of security forces in 2009.
They had precedent. It was in Nigeria, after all, that a deputy governor, later backed by his superior, pronounced a fatwa on a Nigerian citizen in 2002: “Like Salman Rushdie, [her blood] can be shed. It is binding on all Muslims, wherever they are, to consider the killing of the writer as a religious duty.”
That was the fallout from a beauty contest in Abuja that drew the ire of some Islamic extremists. Reacting to the mayhem, a female journalist had speculated that, were the Prophet Muhammad alive, he might have selected one of the contestants for wife. For that alleged blasphemy, hundreds, guilty only of innocently pursuing a living, were massacred by hordes of fanatics, who were mostly bused into the capital for organized violence. The president went groveling before the presumably offended elite.
It was the same governor of an impoverished state called Zamfara who unilaterally commenced the separatist agenda that turned parts of Nigeria into theocracies under a supposed secular Constitution. His whim was indulged, his political support was courted by the then-sitting president, obsessed with prolonging his tenure. The governor, now turned senator, was also caught as a serial craddle-robber. Challenged in the media, he boasted that the Quran was above the Constitution, and thus he was not subject to laws that criminalized Reproduction with underage children or, indeed, cross-border sex trafficking, of which he was equally accused. He was neither censured by his fellow senators nor placed on trial. His followers have taken their cue from his declaration, convinced that the greater the crime, the greater its deserving of immunity.
How many of the hundreds of cases of impunity need one cite, with their corresponding gestures of appeasement? Where does one begin? Can the Nigerian police or judicial records reveal how many were prosecuted when a man called Gideon Akaluka was beheaded, his head paraded on a stake through the streets of Kano in northern Nigeria, for allegedly desecrating the Quran? It turned out no such offense had been committed. Nor has there been a single arrest in the secondary school where an invigilating teacher, a Mrs. Oluwasesin, was stripped Unclad, beaten, and then “necklaced”—set on fire by students for allegedly “treating the Quran with disrespect.” Her real crime? She had confiscated a Quran—and, incidentally, a Bible as well—from cheating students during a paper on religious studies. How does one convey scenes where killers perform ritual recitations before or after the meticulous throat-slitting of schoolchildren, in the conviction that this carries the same potency of immunity as papal indulgences once did in the decadent era of Christianity? For decades, leaders of those communities remained mute or uttered pietisms. Now the foot soldiers have matured on the taste of blood. They understand the essence of power. Some have come to realize they have been programmed, used, abused, and discarded. Now they seek to exercise power and have turned on all, mentors and appeasers alike.
Nigeria is at war. The Somalia scenario nibbles at her cohesion. When we insisted that the nation had become a prime target of al Qaeda, the reply was that Boko Haram was a homegrown phenomenon—as if this were ever the question! The reality is that it has, inevitably, developed ties with al Qaeda and its borderless company of religious insurgency. Only a few have sown the wind, but that wind was fanned by the breath of appeasement. Only one choice remains: to ride, or else reap, the whirlwind.

Rid your govt, security forces of questionable character •South-South, South-West leaders tell Jonathan •Want Boko Haram activities treated as treason •Harp on national conference
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Written by Idowu Adelusi and Dare Adekanmbi
Sunday, 22 January 2012

ShareEminent leaders of thought from the South-South and South-West regions of the country have tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to weed out people of dubious loyalty from his government and the security forces in the nation.

The leaders spoke against the background of the threat posed to national unity by the activities of members of the terrorist Boko Haram group and President Jonathan’s declaration that members of the sect had
infiltrated government and the security agencies.

They spoke in unison during the maiden meeting of the leaders and elders of the two regions held at the Efunyela Hall in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State home of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The meeting started at about 12p.m. and went into a closed-door session from which it rose at about 4p.m, with the delegates emerging from the venue in an atmosphere of camaraderie characterised by back-slapping, hugging and throwing of banters.

Expectedly, the prevailing issues in the polity dominated discussions in the four-hour cross-fertilisation of ideas on how the ship of state would not founder and national cohesion endangered.

A communiqué entitled: “Strengthening the Unity of Nigeria issued at the end of the jaw-jaw and jointly signed by the leader of the South-South delegates, Chief Edwin Clark, and his counterpart form the South-West, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, reads as follows:

“The meeting was convened at the instance of the South-South leaders with a view to thanking the Yoruba people for their support towards the victory of President Jonathan at the last elections and to strengthen bridges of cooperation and to expand this bridge-building to other geopolitical zones of the country.

“The meeting condemned very strongly the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect, the increasing associated loss of innocent lives especially of Christians and Southerners and the threat the sect poses to the unity of our nation by its ultimatum to non-Northerners to leave the North.

“That the dastardly act of multiple bomb blasts carried out in Kano on Friday, 20th January, 2012 by the Boko Haram sect which claimed several innocent lives and property is totally condemned without equivocation and in the strongest term possible.

“In respect of the Boko Haram threat to national security, the meeting further urged the President not to hesitate to rid his government and the nation’s security forces of all persons of dubious loyalty and to treat the activities of the sect as treason and apply the relevant laws on the culprits and their sponsors,”

The leaders also reiterated the convocation of a national conference to address issues militating against the corporate existence of the country and as well produce a truly federal constitution that will guarantee a unified country.

On the deployment of soldiers in Lagos State, which has become a political football of some sort, and similar troops deployment in others cities and states of the federation, the meeting affirmed the sacrosanct nature of State Authority in dealing with security matters.

However, the meeting urged President Jonathan to review the deployment of military personnel in all affected areas in the country and where the circumstances so permit, direct the withdrawal of the soldiers from the streets to reduce tension and apprehension.

The meeting also urged the president to firmly prosecute the war against corruption without fear or favour so as to sanitise the country for sustainable growth and development of the economy.

“To this end, the meeting calls on all Nigerians not only to give maximum support and encouragement to the current efforts of President Jonathan in probing the activities of the fuel subsidy but also, to urge him to sanitise the entire oil and gas industry that has always created overnight briefcase billionaires at the expense of the masses,” the communiqué added.

It enjoined the president to commence steps at reducing the cost and size of governance branches of government.

The next meeting of the leaders will be held in the South-South region in April. A 10-member delegation from each of the zones was constituted and mandated to deliver the communiqué to the president.

In attendance at the meeting were Chief Edwin Clark; Senator Felix Ibru; the Obong of Calabar, His Royal Majesty, Dandeson Douglas; a former Petroleum Minister and Amanyanabo of Nembe, Dr Edmund Daukorie; Professor Saleba Mukoro; the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (retd) a former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro; Rear Admiral F.B.I Porbeni; Honourable Tunde Akogun; Dr B.K Adasen; Brigadier-General S. E Oviawe; Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw; Chief Ayakene E. Whisky; Dr Emmanuel Efezuma;

Others include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade as well as many royal fathers from the South West zone; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Chief Gbenga Daniel; Sir Olaniwun Ajayi; Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Chief G.O.K Ajayi; Chief Olu Falae; Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya; Professor Oladapo Afolabi; Professor (Mrs) Adenike Grange; Cjief Akin Omojola; Senator Tony Adefuye; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Chief Dipi Jimilehin.

Also present were Professor Tunde Adeniran; Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; Chief Supo Shonibare; Chief Gani Adams; Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo; Professor Moibi Opeloye; Rear Admiral Femi Olumide; Senator Koforola Bucknor-Akerele; Dr Yemi Farounbi; Chief Oladosu Oladipo; Chief Pekun Awobona; Dr Kunle Olajide; Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu; Chief Abiola Ogundokun; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Princess Bibi Sangodoyin

http://tribune.com.ng/sun/news/6188-rid-your-govt-security-forces-of-questionable-character-south-south-south-west-leaders-tell-jonathan-want-boko-haram-activities-treated-as-treason-harp-on-national-conference

Nigeria: Arewa Youth Leader Advocates Sovereign National Conference
Yemi Bamidele
19 January 2012

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Ibadan — Worried by the raging resurgence of the Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalists, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima has declared that an urgent convocation of the Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is imperative to address fundamental issues confronting the country.

The Arewa youth leader bared his mind in Ibadan today on the occasion of the Ishrat 2012 Inter-faith symposium organised by the Shafaudeen in Islam Fidunya Wal'akhirat in collaboration with Centre for Religions Tolerance and Cooperation.

Alhaji Shettima, in his lecture entitled "Achieving Peace through Democracy - A Leadership Challenge" reiterated the crucial need for all segments in the country to sit down and dialogue.

"Call it Sovereign National Conference, National Dialogue or Constitutional Conference, we need to sit down together urgently to avoid Nigeria crashing," he said.

Commenting specifically on the recurring Boko Haram crisis in the Northern part of the country, the Arewa youth leader posited that "no religion allows killing". He however maintained that peace cannot be achieved without justice and equity just as he decried in strong terms the role of those he tagged "the Northern oligarchy" in the crisis.

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According to Alhaji Shettima, "the Northern oligarchy are not comfortable despite their abysmal failure to make the best use of their over 35 years of control of power in the country."

He noted with concern that the Boko Haram had been hijacked by political rivals as against the original principle of the group's late leader, Malam Yusuf advising that "the Federal Government should do everything possible to curb the excesses of the group because if it gets out of hand, it will be dangerous to contain."

Consequently, the Arewa youth leader re-emphasised the need for "a national conference that would make the centre less attractive and focus more on the empowerment of the Local Governments and the States to ensure the rapid transformation of the grassroots


http://allafrica.com/stories/201201191211.html

Nigerian Group Calls for Conference on Country’s Future
Anslem John-Miller of the Council of Ogoni Professionals says the conference will discuss Boko Haram and Nigeria's continued existence

James Butty
,
Photo: Reuters
A car burns at the scene of a bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja, just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja. Five bombs exploded on Christmas Day at churches in Nigeria, one killing at least 27 people, raising fears that Islamist Nigerians continue to express their repugnance at Sunday’s Christmas Day bombings of Christian churches which killed at least 39 people.

The Council of Ogoni Professionals in the United States is calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian National Assembly to convene a sovereign national conference immediately to discuss what they call Nigeria’s existence.

Anslem John-Miller, a member of the Council of Ogoni Professionals, says among other issues to be discussed will be the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombings, and Nigeria’s continued membership in the Organization of Islamic Countries.

“It is clear that the insecurity problem occasioned by the bombings indicate that Nigeria is actually slipping into anarchy if that problem is not addressed,” he said.

John-Miller says there is no way that Nigeria, a multi-religious country, can be a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries.

“Boko Haram is saying that they want to Islamize Nigeria, and Nigeria is a plural state where you have religion in terms of Islam and Christianity, and you also have traditional African religions. So, how can you make a country where you have several religions, or at least two dominant religions, an Islamic state?” John Miller said.

He said Boko Haram’s spate of violence coupled with the attempt by some Nigerian states to impose Sharia Law have their roots in the decision by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida to make Nigeria a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).

John-Miller says Nigeria should deregister from the OIC.

“Boko Haram is not just doing it for doing sake because Nigerian leaders have refused to address the major concern, and that is the fact that Nigeria is a member of Organization of Islamic Countries, a unilateral decision that was taken by Ibrahim Babangida during his tenure as head of state of Nigeria. Nigeria remains a member of that organization and that is wrong. Nigeria needs to de-register from that organization,” John-Miller said.

He also said Boko Haram’s campaign of violence is against the government of Christian President Goodluck Jonathan.

“This thing did not happen during the administration of [the late President Umaru] Yar’ Adua. It didn’t happen in the past. Why are they doing it now? This thing is politically motivated,” he said.

John-Miller criticized politicians in northern Nigeria for not openly condemning the Boko Haram violence.

He said Jonathan’s government needs to be forceful in dealing with Boko Haram.

“I think the government has been dealing with Boko Haram with kid gloves, and it is high time they declare these guys as terrorists. This is a terrorist organization and I am going to be appealing to the U.S. State Department to declare Nigeria as a country that is sponsoring terrorism,” John-miller said.

John-Miller said Jonathan’s decision earlier this year to cancel elaborate 51st Independence Day festivities because of a threat from Boko Haram is an indication that the government is not ready to take on the Islamic sect
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Butty-Nigeria-National-Conference-Call-John-Miller-28december11-136297753.html

Asari Leads Protest, Calls For Sovereign National Conference

Less than an hour after the Nigeria's labour unions called off the nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy, Asari Dokubo, the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NPVF, led thousands youths on a peaceful protest.

The protest which took place along some major streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, was tagged "Operation Occupy Your Resources."

The protesters who were carrying placards lampooned the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress,TUC, and civil society groups for not protesting against systematic marginalisation of oil producing communities who have been crying over injustice and fraudulent depletion of their God given resources.

The placards read "Occupy Your Resources,Not Nigeria," "Sovereign National Conference Now," and "Why Not Occupy Nigeria When, Odi, Odioma, Gbaramatu were destroyed by the military?"

Others read: "Niger Delta Will Resist Any Attempt To Remove President Goodluck Jonathan", "When Ndigbos and Southerners were being killed in the North why did Labour lead a nationwide protest," "The Oil Subsidy Cabal Must Be Exposed,"etc.

Asari who was atop the roof of a Lexus SUV carrying the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force flag and other protesters caused a serious traffic jam along Ikwerre road.

They were followed in a measured distance by armed policemen drawn from the Rivers State Police Command in a convoy of about 10 troopers.

Asari had addressed his supporters at the Isaac Boro Park,in the state capital, on the need to be peaceful in their conduct during the rally.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/16/asari-leads-protest-calls-for-sovereign-national-conference/

Nigeria: Sovereign National Conference Inevitable
07/01/11
Nigeria: Sovereign National Conference Inevitable
03:15:00 am, by callmeike , 1214 words
Categories: News, Nigerian News
*Nigeria: Sovereign National Conference Inevitable

By Ikechukwu Enyiagu

Challenges do not go away when ignored, they persist, gain grounds, and dominate their host, and ignoring to weed a farm while expecting a good yield is not one of fruitful farming principles. The choice of neglecting or feigned ignorance of the presence of a challenge is the foundation of all defeats. The challenges on unity in Nigeria can’t be wished away nor can it die simply because our leaders have ignored its cries and refused to face and deal with it the right way. Great Britain, even when they went ahead with this amalgamation, already saw, beforehand, the challenges and dangers of that decision, but simply chose to ignore it. It’s only a wicked man and an inevitable loser that ever relies as a more desirable choice on the compelling of obedience and compliance than convictions.

This world, in all its vastness and diversities, is just a family. All diversities are aimed at achieving constructive growths for everyone. We have many governments and countries which make up Africa, Europe, Asia, USA, Arab world, etc. Again, the reason for all these is to maximize participation and growth in and from all quarters. No coerced union ever worked for long, and the people involved never progressed. Tribes have become countries, states joined to make great nations, and countries emerged as great continents-all in mutual understanding and agreement. There are, however, some nations that have divided and gone separate ways-all in a bid to maximize participation and growth in and from all quarters.

Nigeria, for reasons well known and recited by every Nigerian, was made into a country comprising of peoples with ever stretching diversities and dissimilarities. This Amalgamation of 1914 has been on test drives to this moment but we have often either failed to note our lessons or simply ignored them in the euphoria of African contentment with smallness. In spite of all efforts made by our heroes past for a better envisaged Nigeria of our time, some of them, honestly, saw its overwhelming challenges and near impossibilities and, voiced their doubts. Amongst their honest predictions, those of some alive and clear-cut warnings of those who know the truth were: ( Continues below…, )



Photo Above: Map of Nigeria showing its 36 states and capital (Abuja or FCT)

Lord Lugard: “The North and the South are like oil and water, they will never mix.” Yet he went ahead and amalgamated them.

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: “The Southern people who are swamping into this region daily in such large numbers are really intruders; we don’t want them and they are not welcome here in the North. Since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country. But the people are different in every way, including religion, custom, language and aspirations… we in the North take it that Nigeria unity is only a British intention for the country they created. IT IS NOT FOR US”.

Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “Nigeria is only a geographical expression to which life was given by the diabolical amalgamation of 1914, that amalgamation will EVER remain the most painful injury a British Government inflicted on Southern Nigeria”.

Al-Hajji Sir Ahmadu Bello: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the south as conquered territories and never allow them to have control of their future.”

Retd. General Yakubu Gowon: “Suffice it to say that putting all considerations to the test, political, economic as well as social, the basis of unity is not there.” ( Continues below…, )



Photo Above: Nigeria Ex-Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon leaving after attending Late Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua's funeral in Katsina, Katsina State May 6, 2010.

Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe: “If this embryo republic of ours must disintegrate, then in the name of God, let the operation be a short and painless one”.

Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: “Nigeria is a stooge of Europe. Her independence was and is a lie. Nigeria committed many crimes against her nationals which in the end made complete nonsense of her claim to unity. Nigeria persecuted and slaughtered her minorities; Nigerian justice was a farce; her elections, her census, her politics - her everything - was corrupt. Qualification, merit and experience were discounted in public service. In one area of Nigeria, for instance, they preferred to turn a nurse who had worked for five years into a doctor rather then employ a qualified doctor from another part of Nigeria; barely literate clerks were made Permanent Secretaries; a university Vice-Chancellor was sacked because he belonged to the wrong tribe.” ( Continues below…, )



Photo Above: Chief (aka People's Servant) Charles O. Okereke( left ) interviewing Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu( right )

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan: “If anything at all, these acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events which plunged our country into 30 months of an unfortunate civil war. As a nation, we are yet to come to terms with the level of human suffering, destruction and displacement, including that of our children to far-away countries, occasioned by those dark days. In recent years, we have also witnessed other acts of intolerance, violence and destruction of human life perpetrated by unpatriotic elements for no justifiable reason. Indeed, the nation still bears some of the scars of other similar events like the aftermath of the June 12 1993 elections that brought our polity to the brink. It is inconceivable therefore, that there are some in our midst who seek to re-enact a stalemate in the political process. My fellow countrymen and women, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” ( Continues below…, )



Photo Above: President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria

As a result of the differences which our leaders pretend do not exist, Biafran independence was declared. MASSOB still cries for freedom, OPC brought its awareness, while MEND came with a new force. Now, it is Boko Haram-bombing everywhere and killing everyone in a bid to Islamize Nigeria. All these are asking for one thing: the freedom to be themselves in their fatherland.

Nigeria, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Nigerian leaders, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Let’s stop this beating about the bush, this meandering around the glaring truth, and opt for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). The prophetic speeches of our heroes past have all been happening before our eyes while we feign blindness. Suppressions cannot suppress, if anything, the cries will get more dramatic and violent by the day. If there is any hope left for a better Nigeria, if there is wisdom in averting another civil war, then SNC is the answer.

I hereby call on our president, Goodluck Jonathan, to step up to this challenge that will imprint his name in the sands of time, and call for a SNC. It’s inevitable, it’s unavoidable, and it’s the only way out-the only way to our freedom, peace, and prosperity. There must be a conference of true representatives who will speak for their people. Two cannot work together unless they agree. Only an ignoramus favours chaos and war against a meeting of the elders. It’s a sovereign national conference or complete hopelessness.

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/blog/index.php/2011/07/01/nigeria-sovereign-national-conference-inevitable

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NORTHERN POLITICAL GROUP ACF ON THE STATE OF THE NATION. FULL STATEMENT UNEDITED!

An emergency meeting of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) took place on Thursday, 26th January, 2012, in the Conference Hall of the ACF, along Sokoto Road, Kaduna. Lt General J.T Useni, Chairman, ACF Board of Trustees, presided. And in attendance were a large delegation of members from all 19 states of the North and the FCT. The emergency meeting was called following the horrific bomb attacks on Kano on Friday, 20th of January, 2012, by the Boko Haram; attacks that caused the death of some 200 innocent people and the destruction of colossal amount of property. Other matters of concern to the North and the country were also discussed. The following statement was approved to be released:

1). Having reviewed the horrendous attacks on Kano and the spate of attacks on many parts of the North which, at the last count, have claimed the lives of over two thousand people, muslims, Christians, northerners, southerners – everyone - and an unquantifiable amount of property across the North, the meeting came to the conclusion that unless addressed quickly and decisively, the threat posed by these attacks have reached such a level that threatens national peace and order and has the potential to cause the collapse of peace, security and public order in the North in particular and the nation in general. In this regard, the ACF makes the following recommendations:

· a) The Federal Government should commit itself openly and unambiguously in guaranteeing the security of leaders of Boko Haram when eventually they come out for dialogue promised by Mr. President. Government should continue to persevere, uncover the true identity of these people, to be able to determine their demands or grievances and address those that may be genuine and in accordance with our laws.

· b) ACF calls upon all people of good conscience who may have access to members of Boko Haram to urge them to take advantage of secure channels of communication to be provided by the Federal Government towards achieving a resolution of the current bloody impasse.

· c) Similarly, ACF calls upon and enjoins the leaders and members of Boko Haram to realize that no religious doctrine permits the killing of innocent lives. It is important to point out to them that they are inflicting terror, death and destruction upon people not in anyway responsible for whatever injustice they believe have been done to them.

· d) While it is true that the actions of Boko Haram are condemnable, it is also necessary to call upon the Federal Government and all our political leaders as well as all those in positions of authority, to recall the UN resolution 1963 of 2010 which urges governments around the world to address underlying causes of civil unrest and social conflicts rather than resort to hard military power which rarely solve them.

· e)The Federal and State Governments should be seen to demonstrate fairness and justice in dealing with all issues of insecurity and infringement of the laws.

· 2) ACF notes with grave concerns some serious allegations peddled by certain people to the effect that some people from other sections of the country were conspiring to cause high level of insecurity across the country with the clear intention of making the country ungovernable. Some of these allegations go as far as saying that there are plots to assassinate the President. They also allege that southerners were not only being killed but that their attempts to flee the North were being blocked by Northerners. These allegations have been written and widely publicized in the media. Considering the gravity of the allegations bordering on treason, the Forum calls on the government, as a matter of urgency, to investigate them for the purposes of prosecution.

3). ACF notes the well advertised changes made in the Nigeria Police for better services. However, in view of the widespread ineffectiveness with which current security challenges are being tackled, the Forum calls on the government to extend similar re-organisation to all other security agencies, especially the intelligence community. We call on the government to be more proactive, more decisive and engage in less lamentations.

4). The ACF reviewed the recurring calls for a national conference, and even a Sovereign National Conference, for the purpose, the proponents say, of re-defining the terms of our union. The Forum concluded that the terms of our National Union and those by which the Nigerian Federation are run have been well defined in our Constitution. However, for the avoidance of doubt, it should be made clear that the North remains open to, and will be keen to discuss any ideas that may place Nigeria in a better position to meet the challenges of nation building and secure a better future for this and succeeding generations of Nigerians.

Alhaji Aliko M. Mohammed OFR Mr. Anthony N.Z Sani
Dan Iyan Misau National Publicity Secretary
Chairman, NEC

I can't wait we need to split into our 3 geographical zones back and separate

I am tired of this hypocricy and tribalism left right and center

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said only a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) would save the weakening pillars of Nigeria as a federal entity.

He spoke at the first Anthony Enahoro Memorial Lecture at the Benin Club, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday.

Represented by Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs Funmi Olayinka, Tinubu said: “I submit to you today that because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak.

“Unless we move to strengthen it through dialogue and equity, we will remain a nation in mere words.”

The ACN leader said fixing the national pillar would entail a robust people-driven debate, insisting that any artificial tinkering of the present constitution would fall short.

He said: “The 21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues (PCROCI) recently set up by President Goodluck Jonathan falls short.

“It is a backdoor approach to the issue of national conference. In memory of Chief Enahoro we must convoke a national conference. It would provide a platform to address our pressing concerns.”

He said it was ironic that Nigeria once a product of dialogue at independence now has leaders who avoid robust dialogue state policy. But he stated that free and unfettered dialogue holds the key to Nigeria’s rebirth.

“The people ought to be consulted on the issue of subsidy. We ought to have a referendum on the question, not only of oil subsidy but also on sovereign wealth fund as well as the proposed one-term of seven years proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.

Tinubu said federalism as a development paradigm for a multi-national country was no mere labelling, adding that it assures both economic and political fairness.

“Our economic system is supposed to be open and fair. But it is even more slanted and biased than the political system,” he told the audience. “We do not operate a free and fair merit-based economy. We operate a feudal economy, where those in power decide by the whim of the moment who becomes rich and who stays poor.”

He regretted, however, that the military’s over-centralisation had arrested growth and stunted development.

“This has not only stalled development, it has affected recurrent and capital expenditure.

“This fuels corruption at the centre and makes the system a mockery of development.

“It gives a winner-takes-all quality to the presidential election. This is wrong. That is why progressives have been calling for fiscal federalism,” Tinubu said


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/27491-tinubu-calls-for-sovereign-national-conference.html

Thursday, 08 December 2011 00:05
OPC joins calls for Sovereign National Conference
Written by James Azania, Benin

The Oodua People’s Congress has called for the convening of a Sovereign National Conference to address the problems facing the country.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation said during its National Coordination Council meeting in Benin, Edo State on Tuesday SNC remained the only option to tackle the challenges facing the country.

President of the organisation, Chief Gani Adams, who addressed members, denied that OPC was solely founded to fight past oppressive military regimes, declaring that the “Oodua fights against any manner of injustice.”

He said, “There is no doubt that Nigeria is being confronted by many challenges that confound its leadership. It is our belief that nobody knows it all; you can only know what you harbour in your own mind; but not what others think is the right thing to do.


Chief Gani Adams

“It is because of this reason that we must look into the issue of convening a Sovereign National Conference. The SNC will enable us to explore better ways through which we desire to live together as citizens of this country.

“It is not just right to continue the way we are going when all can see the damage we are doing to ourselves and the country. We have so many problems,including corruption, insecurity, epileptic power supply and investors apathy and yet we are reluctant to do what is proper.

“Any government that does not have organisations that serve as a watchdog could be bereft of ideas.”

He said the Benin meeting was to create awareness about the organisation and “reawaken its culture of identity.”

http://www.punchng.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7100:opc-joins-calls-for-sovereign-national-conference&Itemid=542

Sovereign National Conference now
By Bolade Omonijo 29/01/2012 00:00:00
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THE resurfacing of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in Lagos on Thursday could not have been surprising to those who have followed the political history of Nigeria. It first emerged in a period of serious national crisis, a time when a full blown dictator took charge of national affairs and dared anyone to confront him. Many of the patriots who founded NADECO then were prepared for the worst and they barely survived the onslaught.


A lot of things have happened in recent times to gladden the hearts of progressives. First, there were the massive rallies and protests nationwide to compel the government to reinstate the subsidy regime on Petrol. Whereas many Nigerians said they understood the explanation of government on the logic of removing the subsidy, patriots and nationalists contended that too many things about the process were shrouded in secrecy and government needed to reformat the system to engender confidence that the accruing fund would be well utilised. The ongoing public hearing by the House of Representatives has further reinforced this position.

Then, when the federal government moved troops to the streets of Lagos and planned to deploy soldiers to all the states of the South West, the people of the region rose in unison. The Oba of Lagos, government of the state, governors of other states in the zone, the media, civil society and political activists challenged the obnoxious decision. Even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos and other states of the region refused to voice support for the decision of the federal government. It is another lesson that the will of the people is superior to any force as the soldiers were withdrawn without much ceremony. Then, the fact that septuagenarians like Professor Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite and Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu led street protest against deployment of troops was an indication that the past is not too far from the present.

All the protests and rallies took place in the context of general national insecurity. Kidnapping in the South East might have abated somewhat, but the Boko Haram dimension to suicide bombing of public and private places, looming religious conflict and increased spate of armed robbery, especially in the South West, have shown that the American’s prediction that the state could disintegrate within the next three years could become a reality after all. Never before had things been so bad in Nigeria. The United Nations House was bombed, Police Headquarters suffered the same fate and only last week, the whole of Kano city was nearly razed. Dare devil nihilists seized the city and triggered off multiple explosions that claimed hundreds of lives. Jos is not too far from memory. The fire is still raging in the North East states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi. The other two states in the zone, Adamawa and Taraba have enough of their own security challenges.

The President has broached the topic himself: It is time to talk. It is however not enough to serve notice that he would be willing to engage Boko Haram in dialogue, he must be prepared to bring Nigerians of different persuasions together to discuss the way forward. This is also the NADECO message. It is not a new call. It is only a reminder that Nigeria has drifted even further apart since the call became strident in the late eighties. Alao Aka-Basorun and Gani Fawehinmi, great crusaders who did a lot to promote the concept may be dead. But, the idea has survived. The Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya who were punished by the Babangida/Abacha administrations for suggesting the need for SNC may be long gone, but the call can no longer be ignored.

It is to the credit of the likes of Admiral Ndubuisi Kano, Mr Ayo Opadokun, among others that they have kept the flag flying. In due course, we shall know if Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Ralph Obioha and others who left to team up with the PDP intend to identify with the clamour for a new Nigeria, run with a constitution that we can truly call ours.

The questions have reverberated over the ages. Just before independence, the founding fathers gathered at constitutional conferences to decide the way to go. So, the First Republic Constitutions could be described as autochthonous. Others, since, sadly missed the mark. We must return to that path if we are to survive and attain the destined height of the giant of Africa.

For us, oil has become a curse. For others, like Angola, it has been a blessing. The people know what has been done with their wealth and can feel the steady progress. Not so Nigeria. The more prosperous in terms of petro dollars Nigeria has been, the worse has been the standard of living of the people.

A Sovereign Conference is too important to be left in the hands of the indolent handlers of the nation who have frittered away our fund and allowed degeneration in national affairs. To start the process, the NADECO chiefs should be encouraged to kickstart the process by talking to other national and patriotic groups. The satte is unlikely to do a good job if all is left in the hands of the government of the day.

I doff my hat to Kanu, Opadokun and the new NADECO.
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/politics/34869-sovereign-national-conference-now.html

Anyaoku restates call for Sovereign National Conference
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Written by Jude Ossai, Enugu
Friday, 27 January 2012

ShareEX-Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Thursday, drummed up support for the convocation of a National Conference of all ethnic nationalities with a view to stemming further unrest in the country.

Chief Anyaoku spoke as chairman at the 41st convocation lecture of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), delivered by former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at Nsukka Campus.

The acclaimed intentional technocrat spoke against the backdrop of bombings in major cities of Northern Nigeria by the Boko Haram group and “growing fissiparous tendencies”.

"I must warn about the seriousness of current developments especially the continuing threat to the security of the citizenry and integrity of the state.

These developments, he stressed, had brought “added urgency to the need for a national conference of the representatives of the people of Nigeria to discuss the root challenges to the cohesion and unity of Nigeria.”

Chief Anyaoku also urged leaders in the northern part of the country “to recognise the agony and anger of relatives of victims of the bombings” by Boko Haram in all parts of the countr
http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/35045-anyaoku-restates-call-for-sovereign-national-conference

0  CommentTrue Cure For Nigeria is Sovereign National Conference
By Ben Ikari - Author Column 
NDC ruled,failed to rule and has come back promoting their past failure as experience. By: KWAME SEREBOUR / Atw 
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Verily, verily, despite government's presumably tough talk and stance, if Nigeria still has a chance. Only a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) otherwise known as Ethnic Nationalities' Conference (ENC) can save Nigeria. Given that Nigeria was founded on illegal or fraudulent foundation, and the fact that all the different nationalities did not freely discuss and negotiate forming the nation-state, rather imposed on them.

The reality that most Nigerians, considering the culture of oppression championed by a cabal, and deadly conflicts, etc, can not continue to be forced to live under such coerced and repressive circumstances without honest talks.

The aforementioned factors and many that will be discussed below makes a SNC or ENC the Federal government seems to fear, pressing hence the real cure to Nigeria's disease and threats of war. The current semi-conventional warfare, destruction and killing of terroristic magnitude synonymous with the unabated Boko Haram's Northern Islamic sect, and the trading of words to the Boko Haramites by Niger delta militants makes urgent or imperative this conference.

Considering the fact that the disease Nigeria has is foundational and needs no management (else it dies), rather an honest and permanent cure for it to live. The true and holistic cure or panacea (not antidote) to this disease and the peoples' suffering, grievances, national instability and insecurity is, I repeat, a SNC or ENC.

At this long clamored conference, which has repeatedly fallen on the deaf ears of Nigerians in power, all the nationalities that were forced against their wishes to form the country must be present. Any group (s) which may wish to be absent can freely choose.

To avoid unnecessary and deeply divisive conflicts and senseless killing, even a possible second civil war, as the signs are obvious today. The about 300 different nationalities the British colonialists forced into the Nigeria's contraption, will send equal representation freely chosen by their people to a collectively planned conference. This conference should (or could) be sponsored financially by individuals, groups and the federal government, but not influenced by them.

This way Nigeria and Nigerians, will be discussed in earnest, and its entirety and there shall not be any "no go areas" as government-planned and doctored national or constitutional conferences have been restricted.

At the conference, every facet of the country: national interests, unity and security, human rights, and resource control and allocation shall be discussed without reservation. Proper federalism (local autonomy) and democracy, state creation, nation building shall be discussed and resolved. Also to be discussed, according to specifications of international law, is the environment, pollution, revampment and protection-compensation where there is pollution or degradation.

In nutshell, this conference will discuss and negotiate a new Nigeria, which all representatives will agree to, by consensus and not majority vote because even though majority carries the vote as we say in democracy. Not all such majority votes, as we can see in the global politics today are good or in the best interest of the people, but have mostly benefited few rich and powerful in and outside government.

Meanwhile, the conference's representatives shall agree to set up a committee, especially during the conference tenure to draft a new constitution that shall be the Peoples' Constitution, which will take care of their needs or yearnings and aspirations. That is, should the conferees in consultation with their constituencies agree to continue the country, Nigeria.

Sovereign National Conference is, of course, different from a constitutional or ordinary national conference. It is different from mere constitutional review, such as the one that was or currently undertaken by the National Assembly. It is different from that, which Pres. Jonathan recently formed (a 21-Member Presidential Constitutional Review Committee) and led by former Chief Justice Saliu Alfa Belgore, that will among others pick and make recommendations for new laws, out of lingering and popularly suggested laws or provisions that deserves removal.

This group, like the National Assembly's effort at reviewing the constitution as a short-cut to the SNC, will not succeed except it permanently resolves the issues of resource and environmental control and true federalism. It will fail as usual and so a waste a money and time, unless it resolves revenue allocation issues, illegal land-grabbing by government (revocation of land used degree), local autonomy and insecurity, and killing by government officials-complete lawlessness.

Unless the Belgore led committee will resolve the issues of state creation, respect for all nationality and equality of groups, that all nationalities (no matter how large or small) which can pay the cost have one state each or more that will be evenly distributed according to need and viability. Unless it will resolve the issues of education, healthcare, child, women and general human rights, and other pressing issues that all the forced nationalities shall agree to. Of course, government appointed and doctored committee will not treat all the aforementioned issues logically and satisfactorily. So the quest for SNC or ENC stands.

In a Sovereign National Conference therefore, the different nationalities, not few appointed individuals by government or few who represents the states by mostly rigged elections and are in the National Assembly, will speak for themselves. This conference will discuss and in honesty and by compromise resolve the grievances of the first military coup plotters of 1966, if any.

Also to come to the table is the issue of late Isaac Adaka Boro, who, angered by the oppression against Niger delta by the federal government took up arms in 1966, and declared the Niger delta Republic from Nigeria. Boro's legitimate rebellion was crushed by the federal troops within 12 days. The grievances of the Igbos leading to the declaration of Biafra Republic from Nigeria, and the ensuing war that lasted 3 years (Nigerian-Biafran Civil War, 1967-1970), killing more than 3 million people shall come to focus.

The nonviolent and peaceful, intellectual agitation for ERECTISM by the Ogonis, under Ken Saro-Wiwa and MOSOP, which culminated into the unjust hanging of Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogonis shall be discussed and resolved. The reemergence of the Adaka Boro's armed struggle, led by MEND and other militant groups (mostly of Ijaw stock) in Niger delta shall as well be discussed. The current grievances of Northern Nigeria's (Hausa) Boko Haram; the Yoruba and all other grievances shall also be discussed. There shall be lasting solution resulting from these discussions based on honesty and accountability.

There could as well be level-field pardon for all violence and destruction to enable the new polity move forward. This, of course, will be decided by the conference and Nigerians. If the conferees decide not to discuss these old grievances or issues (which I doubt), but move to fixing all or most of the issues raised above, so be it; so long as doing so will appease all sections, after all there is need for compromise.

It is sufficiently clear that all the government-sponsored and doctored conferences and summit have not and will not save Nigeria nor will the so-called war against terrorism save the state, even though America may be involved now as it seems. America already asserts its interests are threatened by Boko Haram's terrorist acts. The Nigerian conflicts are older and deeper than Boko Haram.

Nigeria-country today, is at multiple cross-roads hence the threatening, deadly and unsafe state of affairs. There is no freedom, justice, security nor peace. Education and other socioeconomic and cultural developments are in total disrepair or nonexistent. Everything is lopsided, and upside down!

The old crooked methods that continuously place the country in the state of bloodletting, irresponsibility, and mismanagement, zero accountability, hyper-greed and total disregard are palpable. Disrespect for individual's (and child, women), groups or nationalities, especially minorities' rights pervade the polity. There is a nationally institutionalized policy to oppress Nigerians, especially minorities.

As such the ghost of a jettisoned SNC which some have been killed for agitating peacefully continues to chase Nigeria. The powers that be have refused to look up not to mention seeing the signs pointing to this conference as the only cure or panacea to the country's disease that emanates from the mistake of colonization, and amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectors in 1914.

These cabalic insensitivity, greed and brutality have become the Nigerian culture. There have been unabated corruption, state-sponsored terrorism, insecurity and palpable fear, which could be liken to Thomas Hobbes' "State of Nature." A situation he asserted in his acclaimed work: "Leviathan" of 1651, that, "life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short," due to human animalistic nature: selfishness, everyone seek power; a life where individual interests and greed take over community or collective interests and dreams.

In such state of nature there is acute backwardness, irrationality, lawlessness, insecurity and lack of organization, so a government or monarch will best manage the people, by Hobbes' thinking. Sadly, the mistake of 1914 does not change the "state of nature," rather makes it worst in and against ordinary Nigerians, because the government or monarchical arrangement is also controlled by humans, who are in the Nigerian case more animalistic.

In conclusion therefore, it is no longer a secret or should it be wise for people to go to war because of the fact that Nigeria's formation was not based on consultation rather illegality and fraud. No spiritualist is needed to know that this coercion of free peoples is responsible for the country's disease.

Many Nigerians, including but not limited to Saro-Wiwa, Anthony Enahoro, Wole Soyinka, and groups have called for a SNC, which will save Nigeria. The true federation (of ethnic nationalities) with great power devolution Nigeria is meant to be was aborted before independence (1960) due to greed and hidden agenda of rulers who were mostly of the so-called majority ethnic groups. That trend has not changed, so a SNC is needed that will speak to such cabalic agenda.

It is on record that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo concluded that Nigeria was a mere geographical expression. He also asserted that, in a true federation all ethnic groups are equal, no matter how large or small. As many, including the Saduana of Sokoto Sir. Amadu Belo and Richard Akinjide, QC, SAN, a member of the Nigeria's first cabinet have declared. Nigeria, especially the 1914 amalgamation is a mistake; it is also poisonous as its attributes and citizens oppression currently shows.

Therefore, it is either this SNC or CEN is convened and all lingering issues causing people so much suffering are resolved or the different peoples go their different ways. A peaceful dissolution or disintegration will save lives hence preferred, to the experience of former Yugoslavia, or the bloody conflict that led to the independence of South Sudan.

Relevant international law shows that independence or self-determination in any fashion and by whatever means, including arms rebellion is not prohibited. Talks and consensus such as expected at the SNC are encouraged by the international law or community for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

If Nigeria will survive another 30 years, the people have no option but discuss and plan a Sovereign National Conference, which will chat a new country or many countries out of the present, for peace sake.

Experience has shown that forced peoples as synonymous with Nigerians can not stay forced forever, but shall do all it takes to be free. And although Libya, Egypt and the rest are not the same as Nigeria, and what may befall Nigeria in about 30 years may not be the same as the Libya's and others' experiences.

The current realities on the global stage should serve the Nigerian government and peoples a lesson, that they should see a Sovereign National Conference or Ethnic Nationalities' Conference as the lasting solution or cure.

It should be seen as a panacea to the country's disease. If not, the dynamics of history dictates a peaceful or bitter dissolution that can not be stopped. As usually the case when the SNC agitation intensifies. Pres. Jonathan (in the league of cabal) is reported in Nigerian Compass of Nov. 18, 2011, as was also reported in Punch of Oct. 20, 2010, as saying or implying, SNC is not an option.

While inaugurating the newly formed constitutional review committee under the leadership of Belgore, "Jonathan noted that in spite of the challenges confronting the nation, “our sense of togetherness is strong and our democracy is deepening” (Nigerian Compass, Nov. 11). Reality shows this statement is not true; rather implies oppression and bloodbath will continue, instead of a lasting cure, which is a SNC
http://www.modernghana.com/news/367636/1/true-cure-for-nigeria-is-sovereign-national-confer.html

Understanding the Sovereign National Conference

By

Beko Ransome-Kuti



The recent rejection of the clamour for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) by the Senate has once again re-enforced the need to restate our position on the imperative of the SNC.

Surely, the fact that President Olusegun Obasanjo had to make an official statement even though rejecting the call, shows that the agitation is an ever-present shadow. And for the Senate to issue an anti-SNC Communique shows clearly that the senators are confronted again with reality. Boldly, I say without equivocation, that without a Sovereign National Conference, the future of Nigeria remains threatened and monumental pitfalls await the country.

Again nevertheless, let us examine the arguments of Obasanjo and the Senate, which hammer on this logic: that SNC would amount to surrendering the sovereignty of the people, and that the President was not prepared to do that. The senators also argued, like the President, that they are the custodians of the sovereignty and they could not "hand it over". To begin with, these politicians do not seem to understand what sovereignty means or they rather choose to be mischievous. In the first place the demand for SNC is being made by the Nigerian people, who gave political mandate to the President and the elected representatives in the National Assembly (NA). So, in fact, it should be noted that part of the mandate given to the senators was that they should clamour for such things that would foster free expression and democracy in Nigeria.

While choosing the 109 senators, the people did not hand over their sovereignty but rather a political mandate to be represented by the senators. It is also a fact that even though the people voted for the senators, this does not mean that the people will accept everything the senators do on behalf of the people. For instance the senators, without consultation with their constituencies fixed their salaries and furniture allowances. It does not mean that the people agreed with the decision of the senators which was purely an egotistic adventure. In the same vein, none of the senators has sampled the opinion of his or her constituency on the clamour for SNC before the communiqué was issued in Calabar. So in a nutshell, sovereignty belongs to the people and to say that sovereignty lies in the presidency or the National Assembly is to misinterpret history and to submit that the people cannot remove the president, or the senators, which we all know is absolutely incorrect.

To be candid, the call for SNC is both an economic and political demand which content and value goes beyond the mechanistic procedures of the National Assembly, (NA). We should also add that the call for SNC predated the current National Assembly and in fact, the emergence of a democratic government and subsequently the Senate was just a part of the solution for the call by Nigerians to be free politically and economically.

To push home the meaning of SNC, an understanding of the history of Nigeria is crucial. Long before 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated, the present space was not a void. People, empires and modes of production existed. The far North was ruled by Hausa Habes which was the home of many tribes, Hausa Magajiya, Abyssinian or of coptic stock. From 900 to 1500 AD. The Hausaland was besieged by political forces from Bornu, the Berbes, Tuyaregs and Arabs. The most formidable was the 1804 Jihad which swept the Habeland, imposed an oligarchy, seized the people and the land until the advent of British rule. The Yorubaland had the Oyo empire which triumphed until about 200 years ago, we also have the Bachama, Birom, Angas, Tiv, Kaje, Nupe, Ijaw, Igbo and numerous others. The merging of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914 was accidental so also was the name, Nigeria given to its people. It is important to say that British rule was not forged on negotiations with Nigerians, but negotiations with ethnic nationalities. So also there was no "Nigerian position," but ethnic nationality positions. The 1960 independence, to our knowledge, was preceded by a curious finding conducted by Henry Willink supported by Gordon Hardow, Philip Mason, and JB Shearer which compiled a report on July 30 1958 now known as the Willink Commission of Enquiry. I advise the senators to read carefully the various positions of nationalities visited by the British agents in compiling their reports. It is of note that every nationality in the space called Nigeria had a position and there was not and will never be a 'Nigerian position' except that imposed by the few people in power.

That Willink report noted in its introduction: "The boundaries of the territory now known as Nigeria were first defined in 1907. The word Nigeria was then 20 years old the unity and indeed the separate existence of Nigeria and their concepts are of recent growth". It should be noted that the 1953 Conference that preceded Willink report, the attendants of the conference went as 'ethnic' representatives and the conference recommended that Nigeria should be a federation of three regions. So all along, ethnic nationalities have been the hallmark and essence of Nigeria. It is instructive that the years preceding 1960 and particularly since 1966 when unitarism was introduced, Nigeria has not known peace but, war, coups, and extreme poverty.

These problems continue to stare us in the face and no attempt has been made to redress these problems. Unfortunately, representatives of the National Assembly are there as 'Nigerian representatives' and that is why today several Nationalities in Nigeria had no representatives. There is no Ogoni Senator. The Ijaws of eight million people have only four Senators out of 109. Several nationalities in the North and in the South are not represented. So as far as the 'ethnic' interest which is the dominant trend all over the world is concerned, the Senate can never meet the target. For now, this 'ethnic' conflict, we cannot pretend, is the core of Nigeria's past and present woes. We have seen what has happened since President Obasanjo assumed power.



Dr. Ransome-Kuti the Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance wrote in from Lagos


http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/uarticles/understanding_the_sovereign_nati.htm

ABURI_ THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT GOT AWAY



Max Siollun

maxsiollun@yahoo.com



Wednesday, July 10, 2002

http://www.kwenu.com/publications/siollun/aburi_snc.htm

The fashionable political theory being bandied about in Nigeria today is “Sovereign National Conference” (SNC). According to the advocates of an SNC, if we held yet another constitutional/national debate – all our problems will be solved. Implicit in the SNC argument is that some at most, want to use the SNC to break up the Nigerian federation, and at least, use it to derogate powers from the Federal Government to such an extent that Nigeria’s constituent regions would become autonomous albeit under a figurehead central government.



What we tend to forget is that Nigeria has already had half a dozen constitutional debates – none of which has ever resolved the nagging problems which have dogged Nigeria from independence till today (corruption, ethnic actionalism, indiscipline, profligacy). Given that we have already wasted billions of Naira on constitutional debates, and constitutions that are no longer in use, I do not really see how an SNC could discuss anything that has not already been covered in the previous constitutional debates. Rather than wasting more money on another rancorous conference, which will yet again be hijacked by the same people who produced the constitutions which we are all now unhappy with, I think we should go back, to the “SNC” which Nigeria has already had.



On January 5th – 7th 1967, the members of Nigeria’s then ruling military junta, the Supreme Military Council (SMC), met for the first time at Aburi in Ghana under the auspices of the Ghanaian Head of State: Lieutenant-General Joe Ankrah. It was the first official meeting of all members of that SMC. Following two bloody army coups in 1966, the military governor of the eastern region of Nigeria: Lt-Colonel ‘Emeka’ Ojukwu, had refused to attend any SMC meeting outside the eastern region of Nigeria due to concerns over his safety. The massacre of tens of thousands of Igbos in northern Nigeria only heightened Ojukwu’s sense of isolation and insecurity. In turn, Ojukwu’s public belligerence towards the FMG (whom he suspected of tacitly supporting, or having a hand in the massacres) served to antagonise the FMG, who began to suspect that Ojukwu planned to announce the secession of the eastern region from the rest of Nigeria.



BETWEEN ONE AMBITIOUS COLONEL AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY

The military governor of the north: Lt-Col Hassan Usman Katsina, dismissed Ojukwu’s inflammatory public remarks as attempts “to show how much English he knows”. As far as Katsina was concerned, Nigeria’s problem was a stand-off “between one ambitious Colonel and the rest of the country”. Throughout the six months following the coup of July 29th 1966, Ojukwu repeated his mantra that “I, as the Military Governor of the East cannot meet anywhere in Nigeria where there are Northern troops”. That virtually ruled out an SMC meeting inside Nigeria’s borders. Ojukwu had even turned down offers to attend an SMC meeting on board a British (whom Ojukwu, and Igbos in general did not entirely trust) naval ship, and at Benin, but was finally convinced to attend in the neutral territory of Aburi in Ghana. Ojukwu’s aides were not without doubt. Some warned him that the Aburi meeting could be a trap set by anti-Igbo members of the Federal Government to arrest or kill him. Ojukwu brushed aside their concerns by pointing out that he had received a guarantee of safe passage from Lt-Col Gowon (then the Nigerian Head of State), and that he had to trust Gowon’s word as an officer and a gentleman.



Virtually everything discussed at that Aburi conference is relevant till today. So much so that a reader would be tempted to believe that the discussion was on Nigeria’s problems as at 2002, rather than 35 years earlier, in 1967. It is probably the best recorded constitutional debate in history. Aware that something momentous was occurring, the Ghanaians had the conference tape recorded. The tape of the discussions were later released by Ojukwu as a series of six long playing gramophone records. In attendance on the Federal Military Government (FMG) side were Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon (head of the FMG), Commodore Joseph Wey (head of the Nigerian navy), Colonel Robert Adebayo (military governor of the western region) Lt-Col Hassan Katsina (military governor of the northern region), Lt-Col David Ejoor (military governor of the mid-west region), Major Mobolaji Johnson (military governor of Lagos), Kam Selem (Inspector-General of Police), Mr T Omo-Bare. Ojukwu was in attendance as the eastern region’s military governor.



The federal delegation came “wreathed in smiles” (see Akpan: The Struggle For Secession) and anxious to mollify their former brother-in-arms Ojukwu. Colonels Adebayo and Gowon even offered to embrace Ojukwu. Ojukwu for his part, was still stung by the terrible massacres of his Igbo kinsmen in northern Nigeria the previous year and was in no mood to embrace his former colleagues. The contrast in the demeanour of the participants was in itself a microcosm of what took place over the course of the next two days. While the federal delegation behaved as if the Aburi conference was a social gathering to reunite former friends who had fallen out over a tiff, Ojukwu saw the conference for what it really was: a historic constitutional debate that would determine Nigeria’s future social and political structure.



As per usual, western perspective were focused on image, rather than on the genuine problems of the protagonists. Documents recently de-classified by the United States’ State Department depicted the FMG-eastern region stand-off as a personality clash between Ojukwu and Gowon. According to the American perspective: “many Americans admire Ojukwu. We like romantic leaders, and Ojukwu has panache, quick intelligence and an actor’s voice and fluency. The contrast with Gowon – troubled by the enormity of his task, painfully earnest and slow to react, hesitant and repetitive in speech – led some Americans to view the Nigerian-Biafran conflict as a personal duel between two mismatched individuals” (Airgram from US Embassy in Nigeria to the Department of State: Lagos A-419, February 11th, 1968). As they were busy fighting in Vietnam and fighting a “cold war” against the USSR, the Americans did not become militarily or politically involved in the dispute. Instead, treating the conflict as one falling within Britain’s sphere of influence.



Although Commodore Wey played an avuncular role, it was obvious that the discussion revolved around the younger Colonels: Adebayo, Ejoor, Katsina, Ojukwu and Gowon. Ojukwu showed from the beginning that he was prepared for serious business. He arrived at the conference armed with notes, and an army of secretaries. The other debaters should have realised at this point, that something serious was going to occur. The Ghanaian host Lt-Gen Ankrah made a few introductory remarks and reminded his guests that “the whole world is looking up to you as military men and if there is any failure to reunify or even bring perfect understanding to Nigeria as a whole, you will find that the blame will rest with us through the centuries”. Ankrah added that although he understood that the eastern region/rest of Nigeria stand-off was an internal matter for Nigerians, they should not hesitate to ask him for any help should they feel the need. After the hostility and bitterness that preceded the Aburi meeting, the civilian observers were stunned at the camaraderie displayed by the military officers. The debaters threw off formality and addressed each other by their first names: “Emeka”, “Bolaji”, “Jack” (nickname of Lt-Colonel Gowon) were thrown around as if addressing each other in at a social gathering.



Ojukwu decided to show his good faith, and to test the good faith of the others by asking all present to renounce the use of force to settle the crisis. Ojukwu’s motion was accepted without objection. While this request by Ojukwu may sound very noble, he was in fact playing a cunning soldier-politician. Ojukwu (despite his boasts of the eastern region’s military prowess) realised that he could not succeed in a military campaign against the far more heavily armed FMG. By getting them to renounce the use of force, Ojukwu was trying to negate the FMG’s military advantage. For he knew that if the political situation eventually got out of control, the FMG would find it difficult to resort to a military campaign having already given their word that they would not use force. This may have been an influential factor in Gowon’s reluctance to engage the eastern region in a fully fledged war. Gowon was even accused by some of his own men of treating Ojukwu with kid gloves. The fiery Lt-Col (as he then was) Murtala Muhammed had unleashed his famed volcanic temper on Gowon during an officers’ meeting prior to Aburi. Muhammed slammed his fist down on his desk, and threatened to march into, then sack the eastern region unless Gowon stopped being so soft with Ojukwu. Murtala was eventually posted away from Lagos up to the north. Despite the leading role he played in the coup that brought Gowon to power, Gowon felt Murtala had been making a nuisance of himself by turning up uninvited at SMC meetings.



At Aburi, the assembled military officers struck a chord in unison on the subject of politicians. All of them voiced their contempt for the behaviour of civilian politicians whom they blamed for the wholesale bloodletting of the previous year (completely ignoring the fact that more Nigerian civilians had been murdered by politically motivated violence, in the one year of military rule so far, than in the preceding five years of civilian democratic rule). Commodore Wey slammed the point home rather forcefully when he declared that “Candidly if there had ever been a time in my life when I thought somebody had hurt me sufficiently for me to wish to kill him it was when one of these fellows (politicians) opened his mouth too wide”.



OJUKWU’S PROPHECY
Despite agreeing to attend the conference, Ojukwu was still refusing to recognize Lt-Col Gowon as Nigeria’s Head of State. Ojukwu had defiantly continued to address Gowon as the “the Chief of Staff (Army)” (the post which Gowon occupied before the July counter-coup) in his public statements. Ojukwu was alarmed at the ascension of Gowon to the highest office in the land despite the presence of several other officers who were more senior than him (Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, Commodore J.E.A. Wey, Colonel Adebayo, Lt-Cols Hilary Njoku, Phillip Effiong, George Kurubo, Ime Imo, Conrad Nwawo and Lt-Cols Ejoor and Ojukwu who were promoted to Lt-Col in the same week as Gowon). Ojukwu almost prophetically warned that allowing a man backed by coup plotters to become the Head of State, would create a dangerous precedent which Nigeria would find difficult to emerge from. He told Gowon that “any break at this time from our normal line would write in something into the Nigerian army which is bigger than all of us and that thing is indiscipline, How can you ride above people's heads purely because you are at the head of a group who have their fingers poised on the trigger? If you do it you remain forever a living example of that indiscipline which we want to get rid of because tomorrow a Corporal will think, he could just take over the company from the Major commanding the company…”. Ojukwu’s warning was of course not heeded and his prediction that junior officers would in future overthrow their superior officers proved to be correct. The NCOs and Lieutenants that shot Gowon to power graduated into the Colonels that overthrew him exactly nine years later. As Brigadiers, they overthrew the elected civilian government of Shehu Shagari on the last day of 1983, and removed Major-General Buhari from power in 1985. Ojukwu’s impassioned monologue at Aburi could serve as an anti coup plotter thesis. He continued “you announced yourself as Supreme Commander. Now, Supreme Commander by virtue of the fact that you head or that you are acceptable to people who had mutinied against their commander, kidnapped him and taken him away? By virtue of the support of officers and men who had in the dead of night murdered their brother officers, by virtue of the fact that you stood at the head of a group who had turned their brother officers from the eastern region out of the barracks they shared?”.



When Ojukwu expressed his disgust over the murder of Igbo army officers by their northern colleagues in July 1966, Lt-Col Katsina interjected by asking Ojukwu why he had not reacted with the same revulsion when senior northern military officers were murdered by Igbos seven months earlier. Ojukwu reasoned that in January 1966, soldiers from every region of the Nigerian federation (Nzeogwu: Mid-West, Ifeajuna: East, Ademoyega: West, Kpera: North) had staged a coup in which soldiers and politicians from every region of the federation (Akintola: West, Balewa: North, Unegbe: East, Okotie-Eboh: Mid-West) were also killed. Whereas when northern soldiers staged a revenge coup in July, soldiers from one region of the federation only (North: Danjuma, Murtala, Martin Adamu et al) singled out soldiers from one region in the federation as their targets (East: Okoro, Okonweze, Ironsi etc). Katsina took this opportunity to remind Ojukwu of the effort he had put in to prevent the murder of Igbos. Katsina told Ojukwu that “I have seen an army mutiny in Kano and if you see me trembling you will know what a mutiny is…, I saw a real mutiny when a C.O. of northern origin commanding soldiers of northern origin had to run away”.



THE STAR OF THE SHOW

It was obvious to the non military observers of the Aburi conference that Ojukwu “was clearly the star performer. Everyone wanted to please and concede to him” (see Akpan).

Using his “skillful histrionics and superior intellectual adroitness”, (Kirk Greene: Crisis and Conflict), Ojukwu managed to get the other Colonels to understand, and share his reasoning: that in order to keep Nigeria together as one nation, its constituent regions first had to move a little further apart from each other. A paradox maybe, but the Colonels accepted the logic of Ojukwu’s argument.



On the federal side, only the military governor of the Northern Region: Lt-Col Hassan Usman Katsina, seemed to realize the significance of what was going on. Anxious not to allow Ojukwu’s domination of the proceedings to continue for too long, he at one point dared Ojukwu to “secede, and let the three of us (West, North, Mid-West) join together”. Alarmed by talk of a possible break-up of Nigeria, Ankrah quickly interjected and told his guests that “There is no question of secession when you come here” (Ghana). Although the FMG delegation were keen to mollify and make concessions to Ojukwu, Lt-Col Katsina was more blunt than his other colleagues. He preferred to declare matter of factly to Ojukwu: “You command the East, if you want to come into Nigeria, come into Nigeria and that is that”.



Ojukwu envisaged a titular Head of State that would act only with the concurrence of the various regional governments: “what I envisage is that whoever is at the top is a constitutional chap – constitutional within the context of the military government. That is, he is a titular head, but he would only act where, say when we have met and taken a decision”. Amazingly Gowon accepted Ojukwu’s thesis without really understanding the constitutional implications of what he was agreeing to. Gowon was effectively sanctioning measures which would paralyse his own powers. To signify the limited powers that would be exercised by the Head of State he envisaged, Ojukwu proposed that the watered down phrase “Commander-in-Chief” should be used to address the Head of State as opposed to “Supreme Commander” (a phrase signifying immense power). The title “Commander-in-Chief” has been employed by every Nigerian Head of State subsequent to Aburi.



While the other delegates arrived at Aburi with a simple, but unformulated idea that somehow, Nigeria must stay together, “Ojukwu was the only participant who knew what he wanted, and he secured the signatures of the SMC to documents which would have had the effect of turning Nigeria into little more than a customs union” (Kirk-Greene). Ojukwu managed to get virtually everything he wanted, and was so pleased by his success that he even declared that he would serve under Gowon if he (Gowon) kept to the agreements reached. At that point, Gowon arose from his table position and embraced Ojukwu.



The fulcrum of the agreement at Aburi was that each region would be responsible for its own affairs, and that the FMG would be responsible for matters that affected the entire country: a simple enough concept. Afterwards the officers tasted their agreement with champagne. The federal delegation’s jubilation was such that on his plane flight home, Ojukwu asked one of his secretaries whether the FMG delegates had fully understood the implications of what had been agreed. Hindsight tells us that no one at Aburi (other than Ojukwu) really understood the constitutional implications of what had been agreed. Ojukwu was obviously delighted with this – hence why he was in such a hurry to implement the decisions taken, and why the Federal Government had to renege on them.



Some have argued that Ojukwu took the FMG for a ride by using his superior intelligence to trap the FMG officers into an agreement they did not understand. This argument ignores the fact that Ojukwu was engaged in a constitutional debate by himself against five military officers, a police officer, and an FMG civilian, yet still got his way. Surely it is the FMG members of greater numerical strength who should be criticised for allowing Ojukwu to secure such substantial concessions from them.



Back then, as now, each region of Nigeria was petrified of domination by other regions, no region of the federation was keen to adopt a course which would concentrate too much power at the hands of Nigeria’s central government. Even Gowon acknowledged this (and unwittingly played into Ojukwu’s hands) by admitting that he would “do away with any decree that certainly tended to go towards too much centralisaton”. Ojukwu pounced on the central powers theme and remarked that “Centralisation is a word that stinks in Nigeria today. For that 10,000 people have been killed (this figure was later revised up to 30,000, and then 50,000). The clash, and ill defined relationship between Nigeria’s central and regional governments has been the greatest source of political bloodletting in the country’s history. It led indirectly to the gruesome “religious” clashes that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians over the introduction of Sharia law in some northern states in 2000. It led to the civil war in which over a million civilians died. It led to the execution of Ken Saro-iwa after he agitated for greater self determination for his Ogoni people.



I am of the opinion that with the failure to implement the Aburi decisions, Nigeria missed a golden opportunity to find a constitutional arrangement acceptable to all of its constituent parts. Had even half of the Aburi accords being constitutionally ratified, Nigeria would have been in a much better shape today. It is a sad commentary on the lack of progress that Nigeria has made since Aburi that the issues discussed then (35 years ago) are still being argued over today. Back in 1967, the Aburi decisions were not implemented for one primary reason: oil. Nigeria’s greedy power brokers did not want a loose constitutional arrangement that would deprive them of the vast revenues which Nigeria earns from its crude oil exports. Hence Nigeria is glued together under a powerful central Government of a type more suitable to a country with contiguous ethnicity.



A CONSTITUTIONAL CHAP
It is clear that Nigeria is quite simply too large, too diverse, and too fractious a country to have an all powerful central government of the type we have today. Everywhere you look in Nigeria, there are groups agitating for greater devolvement of federal power to the regions. Although the mantra of these groups is “restructuring” of the Nigerian federation – what they really intend is what Ojukwu wanted to achieve at the Aburi conference in 1967: a constitutional arrangement that would devolve so much power to the regions that the entity known as Nigeria would exist in name only. Each ethnic group in Nigeria believes that their interests can only be looked after if their man is the president of the country. Hence the uncompromising manner in which some Yoruba politicians refused to recognize any non-Yoruba presidential candidate for the 1999 presidential election, and the argument of some northerners that the political leadership of Nigeria is their “birthright”. Yet northern Nigerians are generally poorer than their southern counterparts despite the fact that northerners have ruled Nigeria for 36 out of Nigeria’s 42 years of independence. Conversely, nobody has noticed a sudden increase in the number of Yoruba millionaires since a Yoruba (Olusegun Obasanjo) became Nigeria’s president in 1999.



Rather than engaging in another constitutional drafting/conference exercise at which will waste more taxpayers’ money, and serve as a means for corrupt “big men” to get even richer, we should dust off the Aburi record, and learn from the debates and mistakes of the past in order to ensure a better future for ourselves. What we need in Nigeria is a constitutional arrangement that convinces each Nigerian that their interests will be taken care of regardless of the ethnicity of the Head of State. What we need is a “constitutional chap” of the type envisaged by Ojukwu back at Aburi.

Simply surprise yourself yonder

Biafra Foundation
733 15th street , N.W.
Suite 700
Washington DC 20005
Phone: 202-347-2983
Fax: 202-347-2984

Email: Biafrafoundation@yahoo.com

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIAFRA
GREENBELT , MARYLAND
OCTOBER 18, 2003

Communiqué

With representation from Eastern Nigeria, Anioma, Europe, and throughout the United States of America and Canada, the first post War International Conference on Biafra was concluded with the agreement that the conditions that led to the Biafra-Nigeria War are still present and worse; that the persecution of Ndigbo in Nigeria continues to dictate the overall and specific policies of the Federal government. The effect of this has been the gradual destruction of the country itself, its economy, and its overall pride.

Consequently we, the delegates to this International Conference have resolved:

To explore the possibilities of forming a government in exile in six months if the federal government fails to organize a Conference of ethnic nationalities, in order for these nationalities to decide how they want to associate with one another
To warn governors and functionaries of Eastern Nigeria to desist from collaborating with federal agencies in the harassment and murder of citizens of Eastern Nigeria, particularly members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB ).
That governors of the Eastern States be mindful of the international laws on crime against humanity and that they will be held accountable even years after they must have left office.
To hold them responsible for the safety of Chief Ralph Uwazurike and members of MASSOB considering the threats to their lives from Federal and State government agents.
To challenge Ndigbo to take political responsibility for their self-preservation and self-determination in view of the orchestrated efforts by their enemies to oppress them perpetually.
To challenge Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo National Assembly and all Igbo groups to be vehement in protesting the oppression of their people and forcefully speak out in their defense.
To urge all Igbo organizations, businessmen, intellectuals, students and the clergy to join the struggle to re-actualize Biafra

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http://www./Communique%20first%20International%20Conference%20on%20Biafra%202003l.htm

Sovereign National Conference (With Honesty) 2004-2005
Back in October 2003, at the first post-war International Conference on Biafra held in Maryland, USA, (follow link), the communiqué called for Nigeria to call for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) within 6 months wherein the different ethnic nations fighting and suffering in Nigeria would come to the table to decide on if and how they would associate with one another. Failure to call such a conference, according to that communiqué, would leave Biafra with no choice other than to explore the formation of a Biafra government in exile.

By March 2004, the deadline passed without comment or effort by the Nigerian government. Biafra followed through and exercised the stated option.

At the time of this writing, there is a strong popular initiative (resisted by Obasanjo's government) aimed at convoking SNC by October of 2004. While the effort is commendable, it is compelled by the ever worsening of conditions in Nigeria. It is a last ditch effort to avoid a cataclysmic end for Nigeria.
http://www./SNC_with_honesty.htm
However, the rumored goal of SNC being proposed still aims to keep Nigeria one. What a shame, because this is the same poison-recipe which is killing--no, has already killed--Nigeria. "Sovereign National Conference (With Honesty) 2004-2005" is a three-part essay presenting what a successful SNC means, and why.


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Excerpts,
", What keeps Nigeria one today, if “one” you can call it, is mutual hatred, fear, suspicion, malice, "demonization", pretense, hypocrisy, arrogance and exploitation, held together by lethal force and the unscrupulous opportunism of a haughty few who can wring wealth and power from this pathologic state of affairs.

In the North, the Muslims want their own Sharia Nation and care nothing about Nigeria or Nigerians, except for the preservation of a structure called one-Nigeria, which guarantees their power to control the politics, the military, the security, the economics, and the human resources of entire Nigeria, but especially, the Oil resources.

The non-Muslim North care nothing about one-Nigeria because such a structure ensures that the Muslim-North subjugate and exploit them and take over their land, forcing Islam on them and forcing them off their own land.

The West only cares about what serves the best interest of the Yoruba race, and they do not mince words about it. They are not interested in what is good for Nigeria, nor in sharing anything theirs with Nigeria.

The East understands that their best interest is served by a sovereign Biafra, but suffer from a “defeated nation complex,” acting like an enslaved nation under occupation by the conqueror, Nigeria; helpless to protect their own people, helpless to protect their own natural resources, denied the opportunity to integrate into Nigeria, forcefully ruled indirectly through persons hand-picked by Nigeria, and are well-loathed and constantly dehumanized by Nigeria. This unbearable condition is guaranteed and sustained only by the structure called one-Nigeria.

We can trace the root-problems of Nigeria to the same root problems of Africa, the result of colonial “Balkanization” maps which have left so-called independent African countries with unworkable, unnatural, dysfunctional forced “unions.” The prize of trying to maintain this colonial error is the dysfunction we know as Nigeria today; and as Africa in general.

The time for hypocrisy and pretense is over. The problem with Nigeria is one-Nigeria—trying to keep Nigeria one. The solution is the assertion and diplomatic recognition of each individual nation’s sovereignty. The sovereign nations, now equal partners, can then, with equity and mutual respect, resolve other issues among them. In truth, the word “Sovereign” in Sovereign National Conference is designed to refer to such individual national sovereignties, not to the sovereignty of the entity called Nigeria, "

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", The root-problem of Nigeria is “one-Nigerianism”—forcing different nations to try to be one country / one people, in an unconscious adoption and defense of over-a-century old colonial Balkanization imperative deliberately intended to benefit the colonialists at the expense of the indigenous peoples. This colonial policy was carried out on the entire African continent. Therefore, the root-problem of Nigeria is the extension and mirror of that original root-problem of Africa. Is it any wonder, then, today that Africa is still roiled in wars and battles, inter (and even intra) ethnic national conflicts, political instability, and other struggles of existential proportions and category?,

What is Balkanization? It is the deliberate and calculated division of a region, country, or continent, with the sole intent of making it extremely difficult for the indigenes to form a cohesive opposition force against the Master(s). In fact, in a clever twist, the division-lines are purposely intended to inspire continuous conflict among the divided; of this conflict, only the Master can throttle it for precise control of the entire region. This implies that those being divided are not represented at the planning table; that natural and defining attributes of the peoples being divided are to be exploited and manipulated in such a way as to cause maximum disunity among the peoples, even among related people. Hence, natural boundaries can be ignored entirely, or blurred, while new ones are forced; originally natural populations are split off into newly created units, and so on. The peoples are thus distracted and blinded by their troubles; the Master masterfully controls the confusion so as not to let it get outrightly out of hand; the region is then first systematically and continuously looted for “raw material” and second, forced to be a paying consumer of “refined goods” from the Master’s own land. This is the full meaning and motivation of Balkanization. And, that’s what Africa has inherited, kept, and has been defending and practicing today. Now, one can understand why Africa is in the state that it finds itself in today, "

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", Key to success of SNC:

Ratify and recognize each individual different nation as inviolably sovereign, as prelude to SNC.
Insist on core-representation by nationality.
Maintain and insist on a non-violence process
Negotiate everything else,
", In mid-1966, still dripping—literally—with the blood of the victims of his revenge-countercoup (history does not forget), Gowon made this statement:

“The basis of unity [for Nigeria is] not there…”

Sadly, the veracity and accuracy of this statement clearly eluded him; nor was he touched by its profundity. Thus, Yakubu Gowon was to act different from this truth, forcing, tinkering, bumbling and bungling, trying to defeat the immutable truth which apparently had “issued out of the mouth of [the proverbial biblical] babe,” thereby pushing Nigeria over yet another precipice in the continuing drop into a bottomless abyss. Almost forty years later, even the benefit of real experience and hindsight cannot convince him of his error, as he still defends “one-Nigerianism.”

Comes now Olusegun Obasanjo—for the third time, no less—a man not unfamiliar with the path and ways of Gowon. Says he, Obasanjo:

“…what can SNC [whose goal is one Nigeria] accomplish that [‘all the King’s men and all the King’s horses’] could not achieve?”

And, just as sadly, the profundity of this statement has also completely eluded Obasanjo, who these days prefers to remind the nations and their peoples suffering in Nigeria that he is ready to give his life to keep Nigeria one; all that the peoples really want is a chance to make and see their own life function, and leaders that won’t deliberately and stubbornly blow this chance for a simple, basic human desire enjoyed and taken for granted by the rest of the world—all but Nigeria

If Gowon and Obasanjo cannot grasp the reality of Nigeria—the problem that is one Nigeria—does that then really condemn everyone else to blindness and on-going ignorance?, "

_______________________________________



", SNC: to endorse a malevolent and failed structure called one Nigeria, thus to repeat history; or to ratify the original sovereignties of all nations presently suffering as Nigeria, as such breaking down, finally, the ”Iron Curtain” of Balkanization which hitherto fore had denied the nations and their peoples access to the ingredients of basic human existence, hope and progress,

What shall it be? That’s the question, "



August 2004

THE DRC CONGO EXAMPLE

Democratic Republic of Congo:
Sovereign National Conference
DetailsCategory: Mechanism Created on Monday, 12 September 2011 11:13 Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 December 2011 23:37 Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00 Written by Super User Hits: 307
NAME OF MECHANISM
Sovereign National Conference (Alternative Process)

YEARS OF OPERATION
Opened sessions on the 7th August 1991; temporarily closed in January 2002 by Prime Minister Nguz-A-Karl-I-Bond; and then worked uninterrupted from April to December 2002.

MANDATE AND OPERATIONS
Mandate: Established by Mobutu’s government, under pressure of political parties (UDPS), CSOs and the International Community.

The conference claimed to be a democratic forum of all relevant forces of former Zaire, and was tasked with

1) interrogating the country’s history and question how and

2) finding a way to deal with the multidimensional crisis (political, economic, social, cultural and moral).

Outcome: Recommendations regarding the establishment of political institutions to manage the country’s transition to multiparty democracy.

Staff: Chaired by Catholic Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, the respected chair of the Bishops' Conference.

RESULTS
The conference adopted a series of resolutions in different commissions; however these were not officially endorsed by the government, and the institutions to deal with the transition were not established.

FINAL REPORT
Note: After the initial suspension of this conference, a protest entitled the “March of Hope” was organised by religious communities in order to advocate the re-opening of the conference. Unfortunately, 30 people were killed and hundreds injured during their attempt to resume the conference.

http://www.justiceinperspective.org.za/africa/democratic-republic-of-congo/sovereign-national-conference.html#congocommision

Similiar calls in Zimbabwe

Sovereign National Conference (SNC) Solution To Zimbabwe's Problems Social, economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe demand urgent resolution. The economy has virtually collapsed and Zimbabwe is the first country in the 21st century to hyperinflate. Unemployment rages at 70 percent and HIV/AIDS ravages the population.

More distressing, the ruling ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe is stone-deaf, hopelessly blind, and clueless. Impervious to reason, appeals and even international condemnation, it does not see the failures of its own policies, preferring to blame the West and colonialism for Zimbabwe’s woes.

By Joao EM Matandirani
http://www.zimpolitics.net/snc.htm
Even more disconcerting is the impotence of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and the international community to effect real change and bring relief to the suffering people of Zimbabwe. “smart sanctions” by the U.S. and the European Union have failed to dislodge the Mugabe regime or bring change. Now, the international and African community is divided over what to do next.

The coalition government between ZANU PF and Movement for Democratic Change has not gone well at all. President Mugabe has ignored the objectives of the deal and instead used the “coalition” as a platform to rebuild ZANU PF and an opportunity to manage the transition to the next leaders of ZANU-PF.

Past efforts to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis failed because they appealed to the good sense of the Mugabe regime to initiate change. But the depth of the crisis in Zimbabwe is such that the government of Robert Mugabe alone cannot solve it; nor can the MDC or any single individual or political party. Hence, it must take the collective action of all Zimbabweans. As such a mechanism must be established that permits this. Fortunately for Zimbabwe, it does not have to re-invent the wheel. Such a mechanism, known as the “Sovereign National Conference” (SNC) already exists in Africa itself and derived from Africa’s own indigenous institution of village meeting.
http://www.zimpolitics.net/snc.htm
When a crisis erupts in an African village, the chief and the elders would summon a village meeting and put the issue before the people. At the village assembly the issue is debated by the people until a consensus is reached. During the debate, the chief makes no effort to manipulate the outcome or sway public opinion. Nor are there bazooka-wielding rogues, intimidating or instructing people on what to say. People express their ideas openly and freely without fear of arrest. Once a decision is reached, it is binding on all, including the chief.

In the early 1990s, this indigenous African institution was revived by pro-democracy forces in the form of "sovereign national conferences" to chart a new political future in Benin, Cape Verde Islands, Congo, Malawi, Mali, South Africa, and Zambia. Benin's nine-day "national conference" began on Feb 19, 1990, with 488 delegates, representing various political, religious, trade union, and other groups encompassing the broad spectrum of Beninois society. The conference held "sovereign power" and its decisions were binding on all, including the government. It stripped President Matthieu Kerekou of power, scheduled multiparty elections that ended 17 years of autocratic Marxist rule.

In South Africa, the vehicle used to make that difficult but peaceful transition to a multiracial democratic society was the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). It began deliberations in July 1991, with 228 delegates drawn from about 25 political parties and various anti-apartheid groups. The de Klerk government made no effort to "control" the composition of CODESA. Political parties were not excluded; not even ultra right-wing political groups, although they chose to boycott its deliberations. CODESA strove to reach a "working consensus" on an interim constitution and set a date for the March 1994 elections. It established the composition of an interim or transitional government that would rule until the elections were held. More important, CODESA was "sovereign." Its decisions were binding on the de Klerk government. President Frederick de Klerk could not abrogate any decision made by CODESA - just as the African chief could not disregard any decision arrived at the village meeting.

Clearly, the vehicle exists in Zimbabwe for a peaceful transition to democratic rule or resolution of political crisis. This vehicle worked in Benin, South Africa and Zambia. This is the vehicle all

stake-holders in Zimbabwe must insist on for Zimbabweans to solve their own internal problem. It is the same vehicle all outside Zimbabwe – from SADC, the AU, UN, European Union to the U.S. Congress – must insist on for peaceful change in Zimbabwe.

AU should enjoin all member states to insist on the convocation of a SNC, not just ask Mugabe and opposition activists to “talk to one another.” African sanctions should be imposed if the Mugabe regime fails to comply. Such sanctions may include the blockade of land-locked Zimbabwe by SADC member countries and a cut-off of electricity by South Africa.

Indeed, the alternate scenario is horrific. If nothing is done in Zimbabwe, there will be a complete meltdown and implosion, as was the case in Liberia (1991), Somalia (1993), Rwanda (1994), Burundi (1993), Zaire (1996), Sierra Leone (1999), Ivory Coast (2000) and Togo (2005). And the cost of rebuilding and putting Zimbabwe back together will be enormous.

Dr. 'Layi Abegunrin, Department of Political Science, Howard University provides additional views on how to sustain Nigerian federalism




Federalism presupposes that the national and states/or regional governments should stand to each other in a relation of meaningful autonomy resting upon a balanced division of powers and resources. Each state/or region must have power and resources sufficient to support the structure of a functioning government, able to stand and compete on its own against the others. In today's Nigeria, inter-ethnic intolerance has reached its peak and become endemic. Consequently, the nationalities within the Nigerian state are mutually distrustful of each other and there are many evidences from such festering issues as the violence in the Niger Delta areas, the ethnic clashes in many of the northern and Middle-Belt states, and insecurity all-over the country, the unresolved debate over the sharia question, and the call for resources control by the southern states. In light of all these crises and mutual distrust among all of us Nigerians, there is definitely a need for the Nigerian nationalities to enjoy state autonomy while uniting with each other through true federal government exercising some basic powers, and running some common services. Our union and cooperation should be based on devolution of power and resource control to the regions. True federalism, fiscal federalism, and restructuring of all our national institutions through a sovereign national conference are imperative. There is a need to revisit and restructure our present association we call "Nigeria." Since the independence the northern led military and their political class had dominated the political power and economic resources of the country, this is supposed to be a federal arrangement. Why then should one section of the country be in control at all or most of the time? Professor Sagay said "Political domination and economic centralization has characterized the current arrangement in Nigeria since 1966." Chief Obafemi Awolowo warned against the inherent dangers in the present structure of the Nigerian federation and said:

"If a country is uni-lingual and uni-national, the constitution must be unitary.
If a country is uni-lingual or bi-lingual or multi-lingual and also consist
of communities, which over a period of years, have developed divergent
nationalities, the constitution must be federal and the constituent states must
be organized on the dual basis of language and nationality. If a country is
bi-lingual or multi-lingual, the constitution must be federal and the constituent
states must be organized on a linguistic basis. Any experiment with a unitary
Constitution in a bi-lingual or multi-national country must fail in the long run,"
(Obafemi Awolowo, Path to Nigerian Freedom, 1949, pp. 48-49)

Nigeria is a nation within nations. With about 450 ethnic groups, unitary constitution/system cannot solve Nigerian problems, but genuine federalism. And with our chaotic situations since the end of the civil war, we should convene a sovereign

national conference to restructure the Nigerian polity. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo underscored the seriousness of a national conference in 1998 before declaring his intention to run in 1999 presidential election and said, "Every Nigerian has a stake in the survival and prosperity of the country. This stake should be recognized, no section or group should be made to feel disenfranchised or alienated. The obstacles to voluntary and enthusiastic identification with Nigerians should be removed. I believe this can be achieved through open dialogue among the constituents of the Nigerian Federation" (The Guardian, Lagos, November 3, 1998). Obasanjo went further and said, "Nigeria was taken captive by conspiracy of deception, oppression, corruption and injustice all for greed and selfishness and it needs liberation. Nigeria is too fragile and the situation is too dangerous for anything but the truth and justice and too small for anything but brotherhood and sisterhood. And the world is moving fast that it may leave us behind," (Olusegun Obasanjo, This Animal Called Man, 1998, p. 219). This was Obasanjo the retired General, but since he has been elected and sworn in as Obasanjo the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has retreated from his original statements of 1998.

After the April 2003 presidential election, Obasanjo has forced out his opposition to a national conference when he claimed that, "Nigerians do not need national conference if genuinely what they want is to be part of Nigeria. They want fairness, justice and whatever is given other parts of Nigeria is given to everybody. There is a platform in my
Party the PDP to achieve all these." Now Obasanjo is carrying out the platform of his party, the PDP by organizing the "Conference for Political Reform," and loaded it with his hand picked PDP loyalists. President Obasanjo is out of touch with the voice of reason in Nigeria, and the reality on the ground. These hand-picked party members will not be acceptable to decide the Nigerians' future. What Nigeria needs is a Sovereign National Conference with elected representatives of Nigerian ethnic Nationalities. All ethnic groups must be represented either big or small.

Some of the contributors to this forum have pointed out the importance of Nigeria in Africa and in World affairs, and of A Pan-African Agenda for the National Conference. First of all we should not forget that charity begins at home. Our priority and number one national interest is the protection and security of our citizens; and stability, peace and survival of Nigeria as a sovereign nation. When our country is not stable, secure and at peace at home, how do we contribute to Pan-African Agenda and be respected and be able to maximize the power of Pan-Africanism? As a people, our interest should be to have maximum opportunity for individual and community development without let or hindrance. We need an enabling socio-political environment that provides the best opportunity to individuals for self-actualization and fulfillment so as to unleash their creative energies for development and transformation of the local and regional communities and the national polity as a whole, which will help us continue to contribute to Pan-African Agenda.

Is true, Nigeria has made important contributions in African continental affairs, starting with the Nigerian troops serving in the United Nations peace keeping operations in the Congo in 1960, sent her troops to help put down army mutiny in Tanzanian in 1964. The Nigerian government made moral, materials and financial contributions to the liberation


of Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the end of apartheid system in the
Republic of South Africa (Olayiwola Abegunrin, Nigeria and the Struggle for the Liberation of Zimbabwe:Š, 1992, PP. 78-123). The nation's troops were sent for peace keeping operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone and currently her troops are serving in the Darfur Region of the Western Sudan to rein in peace in that part of Africa. Nigerian troops have served in peace keeping operations not only in Africa but also in the Middle East- Cyprus and Lebanon and in Central Europe- Bosnia. Nigeria would continue her active role in African affairs and as a leader in Pan-Africa Agenda and respected in the World affairs, if she could keep her house in order domestically through a stable and secured true federal system of government.

Thus, for Nigeria to continue making these contributions and respected and accepted as the giant of Africa she has claimed to be, we need new arrangements of a genuine Federalism that will allow us and future generations to renew our faith in a union whose spirit had been severely wounded. The structural problems that have bedeviled Nigeria since the 1914 amalgamation in the name of British crown have not been resolved. If today, Britain, the former colonial overlord and creator of Nigeria, is talking of autonomy with its constituent nationalities: the Welsh, Scottish and Irish in this twenty-first century, obviously, Nigeria needs to see the handwriting on the wall. With the current situation Nigeria cannot survive (should not continue) as quasi-federal country, but as a complete federal state with full autonomy for the regions. According to K.C. Wheare, "Federal Government is an association of states, which has been formed for certain common purposes, but in which the member states retain a large measure of their original independence," (C.K. Wheare, Federal Government, 1946, p. 1). Under the current federal government in Nigeria, all power is centralized, and the states/or regions do not have any control over their resources, or police. Nigeria's economic development, political stability, security and peace depend on extending the freedom, benefits and choice of autonomy to each ethnic nationality within the country.

Under a new arrangement, the regions, or geo-political zones or whatever you call it should be allowed full fiscal autonomy and be free to manage their economy within the limit of their resources. Every state or region at the present stage of development needs its revenue to carry out much needed development projects. Professor Pius Okigbo gave an insight to this problem and warned that, "Any attempt to subsidize and give grants to each unit of the federation without due consultation with and approval of the so-called, well-to-do sections of the country will lead to abuse of power in the center, interstate animosities and feuds, as well as charges of favoritism," (Pius Okigbo, Nigerian Public Finance, 1965). Since the military came to power in January 1966, sectionalism, nepotism, ethnicity and political favorism had been rampant in Nigeria. On the issue of revenue allocation, the land belongs to the people, and there is no sovereignty, but the people, therefore, each region within the Federation of Nigeria should be empowered to levy taxes on its own people for its economic development projects as needed. A sovereign national conference should come up with a constitution that will develop cooperative, competitive and innovative federalism that respects the universal norms in intergovernmental relations, transparency, accountability, justice and mutual confidence, respect and trust.

Some of the states created by the military regimes are not viable, thus, there is a need for boundary adjustment. The classical authorities in political economy have emphasized that the land and including all that it contains belong to the people. Therefore, it is imperative that the 1978 land use decree by the former military administration of General Obasanjo should be abolished. People should and must have right to use their lands the way they want for their own benefits.

If there is no struggle there is no progress, and nations are built out of struggle and ours will not be different. Thus, in restructuring the Nigerian institutions, a new orientation should be included to establish discipline and enforce it at all levels of our society. Nigerians from all walks of life should respect the rule of laws and be a society of laws and order. Let no one be afraid of diversity. We all should be Nigerians because we want to be Nigerians, not because we are forced to be Nigerians. Therefore, for Nigerian state to survive, prosper and restore her purpose, it must be restructured, and this is our chance to establish an acceptable peoples' constitution for political stability, security, economic development, peace and progress. Therefore, a sovereign national conference is imperative, and is the viable option for our survival, peace, stability and sustainable development of Nigeria.

Unless, we have an appropriately constituted sovereign national conference by representatives of all ethnic nationalities (i.e. regardless of the number or seize of each ethnic group, all must be represented to voice their views), and all concerned interest groups (civil society, civil rights and women organizations, labor unions, student organizations etc), within the country; the various nagging issues holding Nigeria like an albatross won't be resolved. The final document agreed upon at the national conference should be put before the Nigerian people for a national referendum. People should decide their own constitution, and it should not be imposed on the people. It should be Nigerian constitution and Nigerians should decide its shape.
http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/386.html

SIMILIAR CALLS IN ETHIOPIA

Call for the Ethiopian Sovereign National Conference to be held soon.

The objective of this conference is to organize a transitional period for democracy in Ethiopia,this is like the NTC of Libya.So,I want all Ethiopians to nominate good people from all sorts of life,religious leaders,community organizers,intellectuals ,political groups from all over the world .

I nominate the following,Obang Meto,prof Getachew,Dr AL,Dr Kassa,Meron Ahadu,Shekspear Feyissa,Abrha Belay,Aba Menkorios of Canada,Siye Abrha,Birtukan Mideksa,G/M Araya,Mekonnen Zelelew,Tamagn Beyene,and all the people that I couldn't remember to be added by you guys, I also nominate OLF,EPRP,G7,ONLF,and other parties to be added by you guys, I also nominate the following medias to be part of this conference,ESAT,Ethiopian Review,Ethiomedia,Sweden Ahmed's radio,ECADF,Addis Dimts,Nestanet La Ethiopia,Qale and Assimba paltalks, more to be added by you the people.

we need an urgent solution to our problem ,I know I am not a politician or a celebrity ,but as one of the 80 million Ethiopians I am expressing my view to facilitate the liberation of Ethiopia from the current brutal aparthied dictatorship.Please nominate more good folks and other parties and organization that I did not mention.you are welcome to comment on the idea itself.I want everybody to know that I raised this call after I had heard the idea from Prof Ayitee of Ghana on ESAT.

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34108

Is Sovereign National Conference the answer?
By Emmanuel Oladesu 15/08/2011 00:05:00
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Braithwaite, Abayomi, Briggs, Kalu and Okunniyi at the meeting held in Lagos.
Ethnic nationalities have intensified their clamour for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, reports Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

The slain Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, delved into the heart of the national question almost 20 years ago. Do we still want to live together as a country?, he asked. If the answer is yes, he again asked: how? To the former governor of Oyo State, a national family meeting was crucial to deliberate on the terms for unity among the component units that are coordinate with the central government.



Ige’s proposal trailed the postulation of his leader and mentor, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of the defunct Western Region. In 1947, the nationalist had published a book titled: “Path to Nigeria’s freedom”. There, he telescoped into the future, predicting that only true federalism could sustain Nigeria, which is the amalgam of incompatible social formations.

Governor Hugh Clifford, who took over from Lord Fredrick Lugard as governor of Nigeria in the colonial days, had also dissected the huge plural society forcefully lumped together by the British. He identified the fundamental elements of its plurality, including diverse languages, customs, traditions, and religions, which have the ultimate potentials of shaping their reactions and perceptions of the socio-economic and political milieu.

As the colonial country wobbled on to independence, nationalist politicians, who were eager to receive the bastion of leadership from the interlopers recognised Nigeria’s limitations. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who later became Governor-General at independence, said: “Let us forget our differences”. But Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who became remained as the Premier of Northern Region, disagreed, saying: “We must understand our differences”.

The three regions; North, East and West, were not the same, both in quality and quantity of their population. In 1998, Ige remarked that, for the North to catch up with the South in the race of progress, development must be at a standstill in the South for 20 years. The ‘gift of nature’, which is now a source of blessing and curse, in the country is also skewed. None of the three big tribes, or ethnic nationalities, is a major producer of oil, which is now the mainstream of the economy.

While the founding fathers of Nigeria settled for federalism and regionalism during the pre-independence and immediate independence era, with the advantage of healthy competition that went with the options, the military, which submerged the country under its centrist system of administration sowed the seeds of discord.

The early strain manifested in the three years of avoidable civil war. When states and local governments were created in response to elite’s scramble for power and relevance, the distribution by the military was lopsided, thereby engendering bitterness. The military nationalised the regional assets and formula for equitable, just and fair distribution of the commonwealth. The principles of derivation, need and national interest were turned upside down and the goose that lays the golden eggs was inflicted with the burden of neglect and denial, prompting violent protests in the Niger Delta.

Efforts at constitution amendment have been futile, owing to the insincerity of the power that be. While the Abuja Conference set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo ended in a fiasco due to the third term agenda, the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), which held an alternative dialogue in Lagos, lack the zeal to market the its draft to the government and people of Nigeria. The Abuja Political Conference was crippled at its inauguration when the former Commander-In-Chief declared that there would be no-go area.

Many believe that, unless the constitution is amended or reviewed to reflect the yearnings of the people, Nigeria will remain a tension-soaked, fledging federalism. Although no ethnic nationality has really indicate intention to opt out of the federation, there are repeated inclinations for the protection of diverse identities and interests, which global organisations describe as the anthem of this millennium.

Echoing these feelings and sentiments, Ayo Adebanjo, lawyer and politician, posited that the solution to the tensions and contradictions that plague the country lies in the Sovereign National Conference, which has been made elusive by the enemies of Nigeria.

The leader of the Southeast-Southsouth professionals, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, lamented that powerful forces which arrogate wisdom to themselves have consistently blocked the opportunity of a conference. He said a national debate or dialogue is a soothing balm to the pains and scars inflicted by the fading federalism, recalling that, when there were national conference in Abuja and the alternative conference in Lagos, there was no single case of violence in the Niger Delta for the whole year.

Eminent Nigerians under the aegis of the ‘National Consensus Group/Project Nigeria are of the same opinion. The group believes that peace, trust and tranquility would return to Nigeria if two criteria are met. The first is the drafting of a new democratic constitution to replace the 1999 constitution, which it described as a military-imposed document. The second is the convocation of a conference.

The group led by the revolutionary lawyer, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, said: “It is now clear that the 1999 military constitution is neither amenable nor amendable to panel beating as it has been attempted in the past and now by the political class”.

A member of the group and leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogonis, (MASOB), Ledum Mitee said that the group should come up with a draft, while building consensus among long standing advocates of genuine constitution review. This idea has been backed by the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun. He said: “We need to revert to regional autonomy to allow the regions to develop at their own pace and permit their governors to strategise on developmental priorities as currently being done by Southwest governors”.

However, Third Republic Senator Sulaiman Salawudeen urged a return to the independence era.”We should revert to the 1960 Constitution. We must restructure the country”, he said, warning that the current unitary system in the garb of federalism would presage doom.

Former Finance Minister Dr Kalu Idika Kalu asked the ethnic nationalities to engage the government with the national questions, adding that their resolution would herald a new dawn.

Southeast and Southsouth Professionals emphasised the urgent need for the national dialogue, warning that Nigeria may disintegrate before 2015, if the terms for peaceful co-existence are not agreed upon by the ethnic nationalities.

Braithwaite, who said that a constitutional surgery is long overdue, insisted on the constitutional restructuring of the country, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to put in motion a machinery for enacting a new constitution acceptable to the country.

At the meeting held in Victoria Island residence of Dr Braithwaite were rights activist Dr Tunji Abayomi, Kalu, Fasehun, Prof Adebayo Williams, Salawu, Yerima Shettima, Shehu Sani,leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni, Leden Mitee, Wale Okunniyi and Niger Delta activist Mrs Ankio Briggs.

A communiqué released at the end of the meeting and read by Mrs Briggs also called for the establishment of a National Consensus Commission to coordinate the process foe making the new constitution.

It reads in part: “Project Nigeria believes the way forward is to immediately begin the process of making a peoples constitution to replace the illegitimate and false constitution.

“Project Nigeria calls for the conveying of a constitutional conference through elections by the people for the purpose of giving to the people their own constitution, which is their fundamental rights.

Abayomi, who spoke on the flaws of the 1999 Constitution said: “The foundation of this country is not clear. There is no agreement by the ethnic groups about Nigeria. Until there is an agreement on the basis for co-existence, there will be no nation. It will be worse for our children in the future.

“The military gave the power to make law to itself under its decrees. But, it lacked the power to make a constitution for Nigeria. The people delegated to the National Assembly their power to make laws. Let them make a law that will give power to the people to make a peoples’ constitution. Yoruba, Ijaw, Boko Haram would meet. Yoruba may want agriculture. Ijaw know what they want. Boko Haram say they don’t want education. All these issues would be discussed. We will decide the way forward at the conference. We should agree on the terms for co-existence”.

Ugwu-Oju said: “If we are still going to have a federation, we must first define the boundaries of the federating units, their powers and functions. We must ask ourselves whether the states and local governments as they are now, should continue as the federating units and be allowed to be draining the scare development resources”.

The leader of Ijaw Professionals, Denzil Ketebe said: “Up to now, we have conventionally worked with the so-called geo-political zones and know that they have come to stay. What remains now is to recognise and admit them as a constitutional fact”.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/politics/15869-is-sovereign-national-conference-the-answer.html

Piqued by recent developments in the country, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Abuja chapter, on Sunday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, convene a Sovereign National Conference to address the unity of the country.

This is coming just as the congress warned politicians and other stakeholders in the Nigeria project to stop making inflammatory statements that may derail the nation’s nascent democracy.

The chairman of the congress, Dr Goddy Idaminabo, who stated this while addressing newsmen in Abuja noted that SNC had become imperative, “in view of the recent developments in the country and the attendant insecurity caused by extremists.”

Speaking further, he said, “we are aware that some groups of people, through their utterances, are fanning the embers of war under the guise of fuel subsidy removal. We, therefore, advise such groups to desist from such utterances and actions and work towards the unity of the country.

“We are worried about the spate of unprovoked killings in the North, in order to make the country ungovernable. We have, in the past, supported leaders from other ethnic groups to achieve their programmes and aspirations towards nation building. The distraction being given to the present administration in its transformation agenda is, to say the least, worrisome,” he said.

While calling on Ijaws to remain calm, he said that, “we request the Ijaws wherever they find themselves, particularly in the North, to remain calm as the situation is being studied very careful. At the appropriate time, they will be informed on the next line of action.”

http://africanheraldexpress.com/blog7/2012/01/09/ijaws-demand-sovereign-national-conference/

Home » Education » Understanding the Sovereign National Conference (SNC)

http://www.openmindfoundation.com/index.php/understanding-the-sovereign-national-conference-snc/
The primary duty of the Sovereign National Conference is to address and find solutions to the key problems afflicting Nigeria since 1914 to date. The concern is to remove all obstacles which have prevented the country from establishing political justice, economic justice, social justice, cultural justice, religious justice and to construct a new constitutional frame-work in terms of the system of government-structurally, politically economically, socially, culturally and religiously.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi (2000)

Openmind Foundation is about Education, Empowerment and Change. Out of frustration over the state of Nigeria in terms of poverty, slow/lack of solid human development, terror, corruption and disunity, etc., some Nigerians have attributed these conditions to a faulty country foundation. “The foundation of this country was built upon dishonesty, corruption, selfishness, tribalism and all evil. We need to visit our foundation again, destroy every evil brick, rebuild with love and respect for one another, integrity of the heart, sacrificial living, love for our father land,” COMETI, a blogger, argues. She is not alone in that view. The intensified activities of Boko Haram since the election of President Jonathan Goodluck, is reminding many, once again, of Nigeria’s ugly past, and culminating in growing/renewed calls for Sovereign National Conference (SNC). The purpose of this article is to provide readers with information on the history and purpose of Sovereign National Conference. It is only through reliable information that quality decisions about Nigeria’s future can be made. We will crown the discussion with a reproduction of the text of a speech delivered in March 2000 by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi at a Press Conference in Lagos. The speech is entitled, “A call for genuine Sovereign National Conference, an alternative to chaos, catastrophe and disintegration”.

The Governor General of Nigeria between 1920 – 31 , Sir Hugh Clifford, described Nigeria as “a collection of independent Native States, separated from one another by great distances, by differences of history and traditions and by ethnological, racial, tribal, political, social and religious barriers.” (Nigeria Council Debate. Lagos, 1920). This description captures the problems of today’s Nigeria vividly. The ill-faithed Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference, which got dismissed by Lt. Col. Gowon on November 30, 1966, can arguably be considered the start of demands for a Sovereign National Conference. Describing the purpose of SNC, Theophilus Emiowele Osezua wrote:

The Sovereign National Conference will give ethnic nationalities an opportunity to examine the questions that have made Nigeria such a disaster and come up with some answers such as the right of every nationality to have greater control over their resources.

The above explanation might sound somewhat selfish, discriminatory and divisive. Therefore, it is not surprising that Dr Ramsom-Kuti, the former Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, argued that “to push home the meaning of SNC, an understanding of the history of Nigeria is crucial”. In support of the statement, he wrote:

Long before 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated, the present space was not a void. People, empires and modes of production existed. The far North was ruled by Hausa Habes which was the home of many tribes, Hausa Magajiya, Abyssinian or of coptic stock. From 900 to 1500 AD. The Hausaland was besieged by political forces from Bornu, the Berbes, Tuyaregs and Arabs. The most formidable was the 1804 Jihad which swept the Habeland, imposed an oligarchy, seized the people and the land until the advent of British rule. The Yorubaland had the Oyo empire which triumphed until about 200 years ago, we also have the Bachama, Birom, Angas, Tiv, Kaje, Nupe, Ijaw, Igbo and numerous others. The merging of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914 was accidental so also was the name, Nigeria given to its people. It is important to say that British rule was not forged on negotiations with Nigerians, but negotiations with ethnic nationalities. So also there was no “Nigerian position,” but ethnic nationality positions. The 1960 independence, to our knowledge, was preceded by a curious finding conducted by Henry Willink supported by Gordon Hardow, Philip Mason, and JB Shearer which compiled a report on July 30 1958 now known as the Willink Commission of Enquiry. I advise the senators to read carefully the various positions of nationalities visited by the British agents in compiling their reports. It is of note that every nationality in the space called Nigeria had a position and there was not and will never be a ‘Nigerian position’ except that imposed by the few people in power (www.nigerdeltacongress.com).

This position is shared in a published academic work by Major Abubakar A. Atofarati, student, US Marine Command and Staff College (1991/92). He wrote:

The Federation of Nigeria, as it is known today, has never really been one homogeneous country, for its widely differing peoples and tribes. This obvious fact notwithstanding, the former colonial master decided to keep the country one in order to effectively control her vital resources for their economic interests. Thus, for administrative convenience the Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Thereafter the only thing this people had in common was the name of their country since each side had different administrative set – up. This alone was an insufficient basis for true unity. Under normal circumstances the amalgamation ought to have brought the various peoples together and provided a firm basis for the arduous task of establishing closer cultural, social, religious, and linguistic ties vital for true unity among the people. There was division, hatred, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced disparity in development” (http://www.africamasterweb.com/BiafranWarCauses.html).

Perhaps you are beginning to appreciate the position of those who claim that the foundation of Nigeria was built upon dishonesty, corruption and selfishness, and consequently demands comprehensive and all inclusive re-engineering. The late human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, stressed the importance and urgency of SNC in a Press Conference on March 22, 2000. He lost his battle with cancer on September 5, 2009 and is greatly remembered for his human rights activities. In reproducing his 2000 speech, we are honouring him and his work. The full text of the speech now follows.

A Call For Genuine Sovereign National Conference, An Alternative to Chaos, Catastrophe and Disintegration

by

Chief Gani Fawehinmi
Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP)

The root cause of our national tragedies is the fundamental defects that have always afflicted the process of determining every constitutional frame-work of the polity. Our constitutional arrangements since 1914 to date (2000) have never truly reflected the political, economic, social, cultural and religious realities of the country.

Above all, the people of the country have never had the opportunity to make inputs into, accept or reject any constitutional frame-work through a referendum. Consequently, the masses of our people have always been treated as aliens in all constitutional processes from 1914 to 1999 as all constitutional flame-works have always been imposed on them whether or not they like them. Principled policies of governments, loss of moral sensitivity.

SNC As Solution to Grievances

There are so many grievances and accusations against Nigeria and by Nigerians which the Sovereign National Conference must consider and resolve with the sole objective of designing a new Constitution (the Peoples’ Constitution) for the country which will cast into extinction all the evil tendencies which have conspired to make Nigeria’ a virtual ‘ghost’ country, deeply and invidiously polarised in all directions since 1914 to date and more seriously since January 15, 1966. We must pull Nigeria back from the brink and from the precipice with a Constitution made democratically by Nigerians through the SNC and affirmed in a referendum by Nigerians. The alternative to this path of sanity is to continue disastrously to pretend that pious political preaching, posturing and exhortations and the use of governmental power of brute force will contain the mounting crises. They will not. It is time to call a spade a spade and face the reality of our fate squarely, sincerely and courageously, so as to prevent a disintegration of the country.

The Sovereign National Conference being advocated is to rebuild this single sovereign nation from its collapsing foundation, not to tear the country into several sovereign nations. If we don’t, I shudder to think of the catastrophic consequences to the very existence of the country and its horrible effects on the black race, Black Africa and the world at large.

Let us move away from the brink. The answer is the Sovereign National Conference. We must prevent the experiences of Rwanda, Burundi, Srilanka, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia from happening in Nigeria.

The only opportunity we have to do this is the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference. We need to talk, talk and talk ourselves to true peace, genuine justice and appropriate peoples’ Constitution in which all Nigerians will find a fulfilment of their hopes and aspirations and unshaken guarantee of peace, stability and prosperity.

How To Convoke A Sovereign National Conference

The Sovereign National Conference, which is the only option left to save this country from sliding into disintegration, must be convoked as quickly as possible.

The Sovereign National Conference is not to govern the country but to find solutions to all the problems that afflict the polity. All the governments under the present constitutional dispensation should be preliminarily involved in the process of convoking a Sovereign National Conference. Consequently, the President of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of House of Representatives, all the thirty-six (36) Governors of the states of the Federation and the thirty-six (36) Speakers of the thirty-six (36) state Assemblies must quickly meet jointly to set up the Sovereign National Conference Planning Committee . The National and State Assemblies should promulgate laws in support of the SNC so that fresh elections are held at the expiration of the tenure of the existing Government in year 2003 on the basis of the Constitution that will be drawn up by the SNC and subjected to a referendum of the people.

Composition of Sovereign National Conference Planning Committee

We recommend that the Planning Committee should comprise 50 members-25 officially selected and 25 non-officials who will be selected across the country based on their track records of patriotism, honesty, integrity, hard work, and ability. The Chief Justice of Nigeria will swear this committee into office as members of the Sovereign National Conference Planning Committee.

Duties of the Sovereign National Conference Planning Committee:

The SNC Planning Committee should be mandated to: (a) Conduct elections in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), into the Sovereign National Conference. (b) Determine the venue of the Conference. (c) Ensure the full inauguration Conference.

Composition of Sovereign National Conference

(a) We must use what we have to achieve what we want. By virtue of section 3(6) of the 1999 Constitution, there are seven hundred and seventy four (774) local governments in Nigeria. Each local government area will elect a member into the Sovereign National Conference. But such election must not be on party basis.

(b) There are important interest groups which cannot be involved in the election at local government level but whose views could be of paramount importance in the resolution of grievances that could come before the Conference. These groups include: The Judiciary, the Army, the Navy, the Airforce, the Police, the Customs, the Prisons, the Immigration, interest groups, professional and trade associations such as those of Teachers at all levels of educational system; Lawyers; Medical Doctors; Pharmacists; Nurses; Engineers; Sociologists; Political Scientists; Administrators; Secretaries; Accountants; Bankers; Architects; Quantity Surveyors; Journalists; Students; Farmers; Market women and petty traders; Artisans; Organized Labour; Employers; Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Women; Religious bodies including Christians, Moslems and Traditional worshippers; Civil Servants at local, state and Federal levels; Human Rights Community and pro-democracy organizations; Ethnic organizations fighting for self-determination; and Traditional Rulers, etc. Each of these groups will in its respective organization elect representatives to the Sovereign National Conference based on its numerical strength. The modalities for doing this can be easily worked out by the Sovereign National Conference Planning Committee.

SNC Not just An Assembly of Nationalities

The import of the recommended composition of the SNC above is that the SNC should not be conceived solely as an assembly of nationalities. Multiple nationality is just one of the realities of Nigeria as a plural society. Other realities of Nigeria such as religious differences, social stratification, gender subjugation, professional and economic interests must also be considered.

Observer Status At the Sovereign National Conference

Observer status should also be given to international bodies such as the UNO, OAU, ECOWAS, EU, Commonwealth, National and International Human Rights and Media Bodies, etc.

Function Of The Sovereign National Conference Primary Function:

The primary duty of the Sovereign National Conference is to address and find solutions to the key problems afflicting Nigeria since 1914 to date. The concern is to remove all obstacles which have prevented the country from establishing political justice, economic justice, social justice, cultural justice, religious justice and to construct a new constitutional frame-work in terms of the system of government-structurally, politically economically, socially, culturally and religiously. Furthermore, the conference is to receive and deliberate upon all grievances and whether contained in memoranda or letter from individuals or groups within and outside Nigeria. The Sovereign National Conference will be enjoined to discuss and deliberate on everything under the sun with regards to Nigeria and how to preserve the country in which Nigerians will have fulfilment of their hopes and aspirations. In other words, a Nigeria where every ethnic group will find succour; and where the masses, the neglected, the persecuted, the deprived and the cheated will find solace. In short, the Sovereign National Conference is to rebuild the country called Nigeria from scratch and to establish a new constitutional structure for a new Nigeria.

Referendum

The Constitution made by the people’ Sovereign National Conference will be subjected to the people’s referendum for the first time in the history of Nigeria.

Economic Restructuring

It is perhaps imperative to stress that contrary to the conception of some new organizations and individuals who have just woken up to appreciate the necessity of the SNC, the work of the SNC should not be limited to political restructuring based on ethnic factors. A key concern of the SNC is economic restructuring.

The SNC should discuss and resolve the character and nature of the economic system that can ensure sustained improvement in the material lives of the ordinary people. The SNC should be concerned with establishing an economic system that will guarantee economic rights of Nigerians, whether rich or poor.

The ordinary people must enjoy the right to work or unemployment allowance in the absence of jobs, cost-free housing, education, health, water, electricity, etc. In a restructured polity, access to social services by the masses should he regarded as fundamental rights. An obligation ought to be imposed on all levels of government to provide social services such that citizens constitutionally, legally and politically can challenge the government in the event of non-provision. If the provision of social services is made to the the constitutional responsibility of all tiers of government, then national resources will be utilized meaningfully in the interest of the larger society. Accountability of government to the people will equally be promoted because governance will acquire a focused and definitive character. When a government has so many constitutional responsibilities and the people are aware of their constitutional rights and are prepared to fight for them legally and politically, looting, stealing, misappropriation of public resources will be minimized if not eliminated.

Relationship of Sovereign National Conference To The Present Constitutional Dispensation

The Sovereign National Conference is not to govern the country. It is to find solutions to the problems of the country. It will therefore not interfere with the governance of the country at the Federal level, in the States and at the Local Governments. Those to govern the country have been elected in 1998/1999 to do so for 4 years and their tenure will end in the year 2003.

Those elected on December 5, 1998 to the Local Governments, on January 9, 1999, to the States and on February 13 and 27 to the centre are now functioning within the confines of a fundamentally defective constitutional arrangement, which was made on the 5th of May 1999 after their elections. Since the military- imposed 1999 Constitution is fundamentally defective and is incapable of satisfying the aspirations of the people, there is a need for a democratically drawn up Constitution through the SNC. The existing Constitution has proved incapable of containing national chaos and steady decline into catastrophic and bloody disintegration in which the teeming poor masses will bear the brunt while the rich many of whom have looted public treasury will find succour and solace in foreign countries. It would be foolhardy to want to protect such a Constitution. It is in the interest of democracy, in order to avert the impending disaster that a new Constitution be drawn up through a mass participatory process.

Conclusion

Our humble contribution contained in the text of this Press Conference should not he miss-understood. Our major concern is to draw public attention to the urgent need for a SNC. Our viewpoints here are mere suggestions rather than a rigid and unchangeable blueprint. Though some other forces equally make demands for SNC, none has given thought to the practical way of setting it in motion and explaining the relationship to the existing power structure.

We hope that the ideas in this publication will spur the relevant organs of Government to take necessary action if they are genuinely interested in taking Nigeria forward positively in the interest of the masses. Public officials who are committed to the principles of democracy, justice and freedoms for our people should not feel threatened by the convocation of the SNC. It is either we allow the SNC to peacefully save Nigeria or Nigeria may be no more on the long run. Though the initiative to convoke the SNC has been placed on the shoulders of the existing government, organisations of the civil society have a responsibility. The ruling classes hardly take an action in the interest of the larger society without the pressure of the masses from below. We therefore hope that this publication will motivate other organisations in the civil society to intensify the pressure for the convocation of the SNC”.

The information about SNC is now in your hands. What you do with it is your human right, as long as it doesn’t infringe other citizens’ human right.