Let us look at the political structure of our colonial
master, Britain/United Kingdom (UK) who brought us
into this mess. UK has four federating regions
namely England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland. All these regions have a common prime
minister who resides in London, UK capital. The
major things they have in common are currency,
ambassador and visa. That is, they operate with one
currency, have one ambassador representing them
in other countries and one uses the same visa to
enter all of them. Apart from this, all the nations of
UK are almost independent of the other. Each region
has its own police, national team, domestic league,
etc. Hence, the English Premier League we watch at
the expense of our domestic league is only
applicable to England. Each region manages its God-
given resources and give a little percent to the
centre as tax. Through this, each region develops at
its own pace independent of other regions. Nigeria
once flourished under a system of governement
similar to this where we had three regions - North,
West and East. Each of these regions sustained itself
with groundnut, cocoa and palm oil respectively
including other agricultural resources. It was during
this period that the three renowned universities -
UNN, ABU and OAU were built by each region. Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe built the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka (UNN) using money from palm oil, Sir
Ahmadu Bello built Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),
Zaria using money from groundnut and Chief
Obafemi Awolowo built Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU), Ile-Ife from cocoa money. Intellectuals like
Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof Chinua Achebe, etc were
produced under this system of govrnment. There
was healthy competition among the three regions
and each developed at its own pace independent of
other regions. There was nothing like looting of
public fund then and the struggle by all the ethnic
regions to control the centre (federal government)
was not as it is today. The Hausa/Fulani military
oligarchy came and suspended the constittution,
created several states at their own advantage and in
their bid to control the oil in the Niger Delta. This is
the genesis of Nigeria's problem. What Nigerians are
asking for is just a return to this true federalism or
total break up of the country. President GEJ said the
outcome of the National Dialogue would be sent to
the National Assembly (NASS). Which NASS? The
people representing the interest/wishes of the
masses or the NASS dominated by the North? A
NASS where Kano alone produces 22 house of
representatives members and Katsina 17 whereas
Anambra and Abia have just 10 and 8 respectively.
Is it the NASS that have passed no bill at the interest
of the masses but rather attempted to legalise girl
child marriage? I think GEJ is trying to bow to
pressure from Hausa/Fulani on the proposed
National Dialogue.

what do you expect from a shoeless human being?

Our #NASS has not done enough to ignite people's confidence in them so subjecting #NationalConference discussion for their ratification will b an exercise in futility. If you (GEJ) refused to change #RiversState Police Commissioner as recommended by NASS, how then will you implement all part of the National Conference decisions if it doesn't favour your ill-intention? For us to get the best, whatever the committee says must stand

edo.girl:
I honestly didn't understand all the excitements about this national dialogue of a thing. Whoever thought this was going to produce any tangible result?

As usual the people who got most excited about it all were Southerners. The Northerners didn't appear too bothered by it all.

And the reason for their quiet confidence?

They have the final say on how, when, and if any significant changes can be made to the current set up of the country. They have the majority in the National Assembly, and even if the National Assembly is bypassed, and the outcome of the national dialogue is put directly to the people through a referendum, the Northern voting block will absolutely pulverise the Southerners with their 'inbuilt' majority.

The way Nigeria is set up currently favours the North immeasurably. Those who expect Northerners to vote for that situation to be changed are naive.

Have you ever seen a Turkey vote for Christmas?

The only time a national conference of any sort will have any meaning is when things are absolutely on the verge of collapse and the Northerners come to the view that some concession is better than allowing the whole thing to collapse. Whatever people say on Nairaland, we are not at that point yet. Ok, I understand, the country is facing many challenges, but the fact remains that things have not yet reached the point where the Northern power brokers believe they need to make any concession.

It is only on the eve of a civil war that they will agree to any meaningful change.

Right now, all they need to do is sit back, relax, make one or two low level threats (lol) and watch GEJ and Tinubu (southerners ironically) trash themselves in the media.

With the trick they perfected in ensuring a majority in the National Assembly, the north has the rest of Nigeria in an arm lock!

Get your opponent in an arm luck and he would eventually be the one begging you to negotiate.

Didn't you guys watch wrestling when you were kids!!

absolute truth,absolute ............


How do we salvage Nigeria from Core-North's grip without war should be the question ?

donroxy: absolute truth,absolute ............


How do we salvage Nigeria from Core-North's grip without war should be the question ?

My friend, u shouldnt b scared of wars. Sometimes it's d best way 2 effect changes. So let it come & d survivors wil enjoy our labour ;>

PehaKaso:

My friend, u shouldnt b scared of wars. Sometimes it's d best way 2 effect changes. So let it come & d survivors wil enjoy our labour ;>

what were the gains of those souls lost in Biafra , are we not the survivors ?


War doesn't answer Nigeria(ns) woes ..... !!!

Naptu2 u ve said the wise tin to do, NA to pass a law dat wud backed the outcome of the NC after the conference dey don't ve a say. Daz all

naptu2: This was one of the problems that bedevilled the Oputa Panel. President Obasanjo used executive powers to set up the panel, with the hope that its recommendations would be sent to the National Assembly and the security services for action.

The panel was bogged down with lawsuits because it was not backed by law.

The proper procedure is to get the National Assembly to pass a law authorising the convocation of a National Conference and for a referendum to be held on the recommendations that emanate from the conference.

Is it the fault of the presidents now? U cab see that our representatives are corrupt and selfish if they can't pass the PIB and even the discussions from the confab.

ilugunboy:

Is this the type of conference that Nigerians have been clamoring for?

The type the outcome will be subjected to unending debate by members of NASS ? This deception ...rigmarole ...waste of money...resources and valuable time should be stopped forthwith...

NUMEROUS CONFAB HAS FAILED AND HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WOULD NOT FAIL BESIDES THE NASS ARE SHARING THE PAIN OF THE MASSES NOW SO THEY ARE DIVIDED,JONA MADE A GOOD POINT SO WE NEED TO EMBRACE IT,THE NASS WILL DEBATE THE OUTCOME OF THE CONFERENCE WHILE PRESSURE GROUPS AND PUBLIC OPINIONS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT WORK INSTEAD OF TRASH LIKE OTHERS.....1 NIGERIA.

Our leaders never fail to amaze be....

If not because our president must be seen to be doing something, he should have converted himself into a monk and ASO Rock, too into a monastery. He should spend the rest of life in seclusion , supplicating to the Almighty in gratitude for favours granted. Take a look...

He is one of the luckiest Nigerians that ever walked the surface of the earth.His background , training and exposure , has not prepared him for the highest office in the land. Just go through his history and you will see the elements of GOOD LUCK in all aspects.University lecturer, no civil public service experience, therefore he has no exposure to the civil service, no business experience where money is made and lost, investments are made and goods are produced, contacts are made culminating in fruitful partnerships with locals and foreigners, negotiation skills are acquired and so on. In all these departments....no juice . no profile...

It is this same guy that consults with sharks and neanderthals like the Anenih, Bamanga Tukur , Bode George,E.K Clarke, Babatope etc that have seen it all to run thus country aground. For goodness sake what does this man need this crowd for? Just lcompare the profile of GEJ and David mark, for instance, and tell me who is streetwise. Who is the real veteran in human interaction...These guys are leading him by the nose

From a short stint in NDDC he became Deputy Governor, with ALams calling the shots, Alams is kicked out he becomes governor. Next step, handbag to Yar adua, , next step, Acting President, now , President and it appears that the goodluck has fizzled out. Anenih, Bamanga Tukur , Bode George,E.K Clarke, Babatope and co have credibility problems of their own and we all know that.

For obvious reasons, an election must be won by someone and it happens to be him. No one should deny his right to stand for a second term. The signals were clear and he tried to be clever by half , from day one,with the six year tenure, to avert an undesirable outcome when it is time to run for a second term. It is this second term that has so much heated up the polity as any young turk like the Amaechi gang, must be emasculated and they refuse to give up as their aspirations are also legitimate.

It will be a great disservice to Nigeria, if it turns out that these latter day converts to a Sovereign National Conference or dialogue agreed to it as a decoy from the struggle for 2015 and the electoral capital it could generate. If it is meant to divert our focus from the current financial, security and trade disputes with vital sectors of our today and tomorrow, doctors and teachers, it is unfortunate. If it is to give the administration a safety valve, allowing us to let off steam, it is dangerous as no one knows what will happen at the end of the road if this conference does not produce results.

Nigerians must watch out. We must be prepared to debate the proposals that emanate from the presidential committee and any other proposal along the line. IF we leave this matter to the president and the legislature, we are in trouble. It is a pity that the legislators that should have used the SNC as the basis for their commitment to the unity and progress of this country, by way of debate and members bills, are in the executive to dissipate time, manpower and resources, including the anxieties of Nigerians to do a job they were elected to do.