It’s because things are not well with Nigeria that President Jonathan called for a National Conference. Critical outside watchers gave the country till 2015 to survive as a nation. Happenings on ground point to that prediction. Privately, it looks like the people want to be together but the ‘how’ is the question. Precisely, we’re at the threshold of co-existence: to be together or not. This is what Sen. Okurounmu must be clear about. To this effect, there are two strategies: open-to-close or close-to-open. The people say, ‘open up Nigeria and we the people through negotiation/agreement, close it for the good of all’. They proposed amongst others: equal representation by the six zones of the various nationalities since in the first place, the conference is about ethnic nationalities. Out of it, they want a brand new people-grown constitution which would be subjected to a referendum and its outcome ratified by the National Assembly.
The new constitution should showcase substantive issues like: devolution of powers, structure of the federation, etc. interestingly, the nationalities worked separately but arrived at similar aggregates, meaning that’s the common denominator. But the submissions of the Okurounmu committee seem to have preferred the close-to-open approach targeting the soft. Unfortunately, shutting out the people’s desire opens up their search for separate solutions. Wrote Olisa Agbakoba, a lawyer/civil society activist: ‘we had thought the advisory committee would be looking at devolution of powers, structure of the federation… rather they are talking about godfatherism, cost of governance, return of unity and private schools, nomadic education, in a constitution’. That is, in the committee’s thinking, Nigeria has survived except for internal fixtures that need minor adjustments here and there. But is that true? Afenifere complemented Agbakoba’s observations thus:
‘The recommendations of the PAC fell short of the aspirations and expectations of the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. Whereas the position canvassed in majority of the zones was that being a conference of nations, the approximation of the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria should be equal representation by the six-geopolitical zones. The PAC has recommended that delegates be elected on the basis of Federal Constituencies which are not representatives of nationalities. Whereas most presentations insisted on National Conference producing a brand new constitution that would be autochthonous, the PAC only talks about integrating the outcome of the conference into the existing constitution. In place of the clear and unambiguous demand of the nationalities that the constitution that would be produced be subjected to a referendum of the people of Nigeria, the PAC made a nebulous recommendation that the conference determines what happens to its decision. … Afenifere clearly rejects this’.
You would ask, didn’t Okorounmu go round to collate the feel of the people or did he just visit to cajole? If not, how come what he recommended omitted what the people said and submitted to him? We’re asking because it looks like he’s seeing Jonathan the boss not the people the owners. Jonathan himself knows that what he has initiated will outlive him. We’re asking because, this is the talking phase of the heavy problem. It’s this phase that will determine Nigeria’s peace or pieces, so better be blunt to put the picture straight. The first shock the exercise will suffer if Okorounmu’s recommendation flies, is the ethnics dissociating themselves; that’ll be the starting point of seeking their respective alternatives overtly or covertly. Besides, there is 2015 lurking. Its fear has made even serving senators propose shifting the election by 2 years though roundly rejected. The conference tends to present the only acceptable way-pointer. By the time the people bare their minds, they’d find where they went wrong and bearing the silent preference to be together, they’d be more ready to compromise; but fear is beginning to replace reason. Already, they are conscious of the importance of the conference; not doing it is dangerous and doing it falsely would quicken disorder. What’s left is, do it rightly. That’s what will stand Jonathan out from the pack; that’s what will cap Okorounmu and that’s what will keep and launch Nigeria. Playing game at this point is dangerous. Jonathan himself should be aware of this and if Okorounmu failed, he (Jonathan) should be found on the side of the people. If he truly plans to save the country, he must be resolute. Odumakin put it succinctly: The danger of disintegration is real. It is clear and present everywhere. This conference presents an opportunity to address it and prevent the country from breaking up.
Yes the country won’t break up but it can if wayo (deceit) streams in. The President should reject that report because it’s timid. Rather than proffer solutions it will introduce fresh ones. PDP’s rebellion is a whirl, adding the ethnic’s is tempest.
By: Onyebuchi Onyegbule
