Game Change: The Uncertainty of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and A Case for Progressive Option

Introduction

President Jonathan, or a PDP Presidential candidate for that matter, would be the last President I would be rooting for. The reason for that is quite obvious: I am a progressive Democrat. Be that as it may, I resent in its entirety the "bring down syndrome" and the pernicious verbiage relentlessly heaped at the person of the President by some of our critics and the blatant subversion of our constitution by family and friends of the late President Yar'Adua throughout his illness and immediately thereafter. Our Constitution is not ambiguous concerning the succession process when there is a vacancy in the office of the President. Despite that understanding, some people were hell-bent on running Vice President Jonathan out of town, similar to what the right wing of the Republican Party did to President Bill Clinton when he newly arrived in Washington, D.C. in 1993. There is a distinction between constructive criticism of the President's programs vis-a-vis willfully lampooning the person of the President because he is not privileged enough or in the image of your likeness. I am a progressive thinker whose view of political power is defined by the extent to which the power is utilised to serve the needs of the electorate, which is in sharp contrast to the conservative ideological bent of the President and his political party. Nevertheless, I still hold the presidency or the office of the President in the highest esteem. Any President, no matter the political party, region, or tribe, is my President, our President. My disagreement with President Jonathan or with PDP is not personal; it is simply ideological and philosophical. That said, I am not ideologically rigid or philosophically uncompromising. I espouse pragmatism and am very willing to embrace informed and positive changes when I feel it in any administration, no matter who is in charge. Right now, it is still politics as usual. 

I have no doubt in my mind that a progressive administration, specifically at the national level, devoid of ethnic or religious colouration, is our best hope given the level of discontent with governance and the apparent disconnect between the governed and successive governments since independence. Until we have a genuine leader who espouses financial discipline, transparency, and accountability in the management of our wealth, we cannot make tomorrow better than today. 

Given the fact that the present administration has not exhibited any modicum of rebellion against the status quo in terms of ideas and war against corruption, the earlier progressives of all shapes and stripes unite around a bold agenda and unseat the power clique, the better for the nation at large. And that, my friends, is the surest route to emancipating the Nigerian man in us. 

Therefore, this paper is more of a progressive re-positioning narrative, making a case for (1) the need for southern progressives and northern mavericks and intellectuals to unite and rebel against greed and feudal principles to avert imminent class warfare, (2) that given the seemingly fragile state of our sovereignty, the idea of SNC (Sovereign National Conference), though well intended, should not be a 'take it or leave it' option, because there are too many uncertainties surrounding it’s happening within a definite period, (3) that progressives and mavericks - with a uniform political and socioeconomic agenda nation-wide - stand a better chance at uniting this country and arresting the ills that facilitate religious intolerance, greed, corruption, and political assassinations, and (4) that the ruling class - from north to south and east to west - are the cause of the hatred in our political system and the not so latent demand for secession. Therefore, defeating them in a democratic setting is a moral imperative.

Part I:

The Need for Game Change

As a progressive, I support free education at all levels and an affordable/quality healthcare system in every community, city, and town in Nigeria. I hold those views in good faith, believing that we have the resources to implement them successfully throughout the nation. Given the substantial wealth embezzled and squandered on frivolous projects daily by politicians and the modern-day legalised fraud (popularly referred to as security vote), I have no doubt in my mind that implementing these programs would not constitute an additional burden or drain on our national budget.

In addition, ours is the only country in the developing world where someone could become a multi-millionaire overnight, not necessarily on account of their ingenuity or business acumen, but from the proceeds of lucrative oil blocs fraudulently and arbitrarily allocated by military regimes that had no constitutional legitimacy. Without any doubt, there is more money from crude oil going into private pockets than actually going where it should be - the national treasury. Simply put, there is more money in private hands than reasonably and economically necessary to manage our educational and healthcare sectors at a level comparable to what obtains in developed countries. 

That we are not living up to the promise, given the enormity of our natural and human resources, is traceable to the power game, perfected by the ruling party, perfected by serving and retired Military top brass, and perfected by their acolytes in and out of government. What I find disturbing is that these Nigerians do not have a problem travelling overseas for medical checkups or paying for their kids to obtain a quality education from top universities in Europe and North America.

On the political party front, it is a celebration of emptiness. There are no core political beliefs, ideology, or a theoretical fundamental framework that subsequent governments, whether at the state or national level, can tap into on assumption of office. 

PDP, as a political party, is a personification of everything that is resentful about Nigeria. The party does not stand for something that you and I could easily relate to as a trademark of what is real and noble in a political party. The same is true of other political parties. Awo and UPN stood for Free Education at all Levels. President Shehu Shagari and the NPN stood for Quality Education. The Republican Party in the U.S. espouses limited government and lower taxes. 

I stand to be corrected, PDP, ACN, Labor, and CPC do not have any ascertainable or easily understood policy or manifesto that one could readily relate to or attribute to the brainchild of any of the top brass of the parties - be it on education; be it on health care; be it on how to manage our federal system and making it more efficient; or be it on real economy to create more jobs and improve public service.

And on a more disturbing note, it is a known fact that the other political parties bungled an opportunity of a lifetime when they couldn't mobilise and rally around a common candidate or an electable candidate throughout the period the late President Yar'Adua was bedridden. They stood still while PDP battled itself out to overcome its zoning arithmetic as if it were the only political party in Nigeria. 

Once bitten, twice shy. It’s time the real progressives start the drive to take power at the centre. Critical time calls for critical measures, and desperate times call for desperate measures by discerning minds. There is the imperative need, therefore, for a real alternative to the PDP; not strictly in terms of personality, but concerning policies and programs. In a nutshell, there are good people within the People's Democratic Party; the problem is, the majority of them in strategic positions have no idea of what Nigerians want or what governance entails.

Every past regime came, not to serve, but to protect seemingly threatened personal business and political empires. IBB was a 'work in progress', though his administration was able to build the Third Mainland Bridge and the Maroko Land Reclamation Project. For Abacha, it was: it is now my turn. Obasanjo simply did not dream of a second coming; therefore, no articulable action plan. This was an accommodation by the IBB and those who derailed Abiola's mandate to pacify the western region. 

Yar'Adua, though bold and purposeful, didn't want to be President. He was visibly unhealthy. To say President Goodluck Jonathan is the luckiest President on earth is an understatement. He simply did not dream of this moment happening so soon. And he has my sympathy, for how long? Time will tell. Now you know why we are where we are as a nation since our independence from Great Britain.

The least prepared, the unwilling, as well as those with the faintest idea of what leadership/governance is about, always have it thrust on them like manna from heaven. Only in Nigeria. 

So, what we are missing in our democratic process is large-scale positive ideas - motivations for power. In hindsight, the absence of motivation in power (why I want to be President), as the tradition has been in Nigeria, is our number one problem: it doesn't bode well for progress, sustainable development, and unity. 

If you do not have what it takes to lead and govern, you won't have it when you get there. That was the difference between Awo and his peers and between President Clinton and his contemporaries elsewhere in the Developing World. It is about passion, vision, a creative mindset, and preparedness. If the centre is weak, fragile, debased, and corrupted, the units would resort to searching for solutions in strange places. That explains the escalation in the demand for Sovereign National Conference and disintegration, as we have seen in the past years.

Your motivations in power define the direction, goal, and accomplishment of your regime. Not speeches or some convoluted macroeconomics baloney contrived by some rented ghostwriters summoned for that purpose upon your assumption of office. There is no shortcut to vision. Ask Awo and President Clinton. It is a multi-phase process. If you don't have it, at least, surround yourself with those who know better than you do, and who are never afraid to say it the way it is. Progressives should not make the mistake of the past. 

Part II:

True Progressives and Northern Mavericks: Building a Sustainable and Purposeful Power Block

Presently, PDP is creating a one-party state through the back door - the number of committees and study groups so far created and being created by the President and his serving Ministers is more than necessary for any government to function effectively. They are systematically co-opting members of the opposition parties and retired technocrats into the government directly and indirectly to decapitate alternative voices and the opposition parties.

Don't be fooled, this President is a chip off the old block. He is a PDP in flesh and blood - once a PDP, always a PDP. What is most troubling is that ACN, CPC, and Labour do not have leaders with a commanding presence at the national level to match the political strength and influence of PDP heavyweights lurking behind the scene. Adding to that, none has the credibility to brand a contrast and mount a vigorous nationwide campaign to oust the ruling class from power at the national level.

The first step is to separate the wheat from the chaff within the progressive cycle. There are numerous political parties in our country today, without any distinctive manifestos, each masquerading as a real alternative to the PDP. Within these parties, you have pockets of real progressives labouring in vain to find a voice at the national level, while interlopers and career politicians hold sway and call the shots.

For instance, the fact that you wear an Awo doesn't make you an Awoist or imbue you with Awo's values and leadership virtues. Do you profess Awoism and are willing to apply it to the best of your ability relative to the volume of resources within your control - pragmatism? That is the test. 

You don’t have to be an Afenifere to wear the crown. After all, Professor Claude Ake, who introduced “Awo” as a course of study in his Faculty at the University of Port Harcourt, was not in any shape or form a politician or of the Yoruba race. He was simply an authentic Awoist and a true witness to the accomplishments of the late sage. That he decided to propagate the message to the younger generations via a classroom setting was quite understandable. Awoism shouldn't be about slogans and rhetoric, but action and performance. Right now, there are no traces of Awoism in any of the political parties in the country.

In a similar vein, the fact that you exude Aminu Kano's populist activism image doesn't make you a lover of the talakawa or a talakawa sympathiser. Do you have what it takes to organise with righteous intent, designed exclusively to serve the underclass? Are you willing to practice egalitarianism? How many people have you liberated from poverty, decadence, illiteracy, and mental slavery? Are you willing to accept that there are people in your community deserving of emancipation? Those are the tests.

A few days ago, I watched “America Welcomes Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa of Nigeria, July 1961: 25-28” posted on my blog at http://hamiltonatlarge.blogspot.com/ and I was mesmerised by his command of the English Language as well as his verbal prowess. He was polished, distinguished, and was in complete command of the audience everywhere he went in the US. The more I watch the video, the more annoyed I am with Boko Haram's sense(less) of purpose. 

That is, but a part of the main problem.

Surprisingly, and of course more disappointingly, a substantial majority of the contemporary northern intellectual class and the political elite groups who, no doubt, are the direct beneficiaries of feudal educational largess (full scholarship, lucrative and strategic job placement in government and in public sectors upon graduation), are now blaming the pervasive bombing campaign by the Boko Haram sect on poverty, marginalization, and revenue allocation disparity. Most disappointing is the fact that some of these privileged, educated elite groups do not suffer any equivocation when justifying Boko Haram's barbarism on every available social media regularly - extra-judicial killing is the new slang. 

Problematic as that affinity (love fest between the sect and the intellectuals) seemingly is, it doesn't foreclose the need to unite between the authentic southern progressives and the present generation of northern intellectuals because of overriding national interests.

But first, there must be a meeting of the minds on one fundamental issue - defeating the status quo. And that brings us to the thesis of this article.

Thesis:

How do you make a change in a society when those who ought to be at the forefront of change are the direct beneficiaries of the policies that made the call for change inevitable?

This is not an isolated or abstract academic puzzle - it is the real deal at the core of our political impasse. And it is the first hurdle that those of us (I mean, southern progressives) who think change is possible must first overcome to create a formidable framework for a truly progressive movement. Here is my approach to the thesis.

Argument:

In light of the current development in Nigeria, it is incumbent on the part of the vocal northern intellectuals to rebel against the oligarchic system in principle to collaborate with the progressives nationwide to create a political culture that would benefit everyone equally. Given the scale of unrest in the north, rebelling against a feudal philosophy that perpetuates the class system becomes a moral obligation. It is the right thing to do given (1) the level of discontent as well as the total disconnect between the nouveau riche and the talakawa, (2) the obscene wealth flowing to certain families in the north from lucrative oil blocs appropriated during the past military regimes is more than necessary to develop the region, and (3) the unpredictable nature of the class warfare that would engulf the region and the spill-over effect to the other parts of the country, should status quo remain unchanged, is more potent than imagined. Therefore, it is a choice: it is either you (Mavericks and militant intellectuals) step out of your protective closets and align with progressives in the south to build sustainable human and economic development throughout the northern region and Nigeria at large, or you remain ensconced in your El Dorado and suffer the Qaddafi's foolhardiness in the long run. The ball is in your court.

As things stand now, it is time both camps (southern progressives and northern mavericks) reach out across the Niger and the Benue for that elusive handshake and develop a bond – a new narrative for a unity of purpose and challenges. 

You can no longer stand by, trade jabs across the Niger, and watch as the political situation deteriorates, and then, step up later to blame the collapse on the usual suspect: greedy politicians, oligarchic feudal lords, and greedy administrators and bankers, and all the Halliburton in our midst. Where were you all this time? Simply put, at this juncture, the issue is no longer about what Lord Lugard did or did not do, or whether amalgamation was a curse or a blessing, but on how to make the 'Geographical Expression' (apology to Papa Awo) live up to its true promise.

Part III:

Optimism versus SNC versus Boko Haram

Every Friday and every Sunday, we congregate in our places of worship, asking for God's Blessings and to save Nigeria, our beloved country. Why not? He is a forgiving God. Japan, the State of Israel, and Switzerland do not have what we have in terms of natural resources - richly endowed arable land and mineral resources. Yet, we are not self-sufficient in terms of food production. And more than 50 years after the discovery of crude oil in the Niger Delta, we are still rioting over oil subsidies, because we cannot refine enough crude oil sufficient to meet our domestic demand for refined petroleum products. 

These are some of the reasons why some people believe it is important that we meet by way of a sovereign national conference and dialogue on how we should continue to coexist as one nation-state. No doubt, I have an issue with SNC because those who are pushing it cannot get their act together, similar to what Umaru Dikko, Jubrin Aminu, or Ango Abdullahi would have done if they were the ones demanding SNC. In other words, it is a shame that a body made up of so diverse egg-heads (intellectuals) cannot marshal a coherent narrative for SNC and follow it up with an action plan.

Given the paucity of a well-thought-out case for SNC, I hereby, from a southerner's perspective, present highlights of the general opinion of the north on why they want SNC. (1) Nigeria is not developing fast enough as expected because of northern dominance of the entire federal institutions, (2) abuse of Federal Character and Quota System by the Fulani aided by Hausa groups, contrary to constitutional intent, (3) insecurity, barbarism, and the indiscriminate killing of innocent souls (predominantly Christians and Ndigbo) during religious crisis in the north, (4) the inordinate power ambition of the Fulani/Hausa groups (5) the monopoly of the oil wealth by the same Hausa and Fulani groups, (6) the un-education of a greater majority northern children, thereby creating a spillover effect in other parts of the country, (7) the quality of leaders that the northern feudal or oligarchic class imposes on the rest of us at the national level since independence, and (8) the arbitrariness of the last local governments and states creation.

(These are some of the kinds of stuff that most Southerners talk about, especially on social media. And for anyone to blame it on sentiments is absolute denial. Not talking about it is analogous to saying African Americans should not talk about slavery.

Therefore, taking the above eight facts as true, would that be enough to make a compelling case for disintegration or SNC? If yes, who is going to convene or approve the conference? Would it be the same President Goodluck Jonathan elected by Nigerians to serve the whole country for four years? Or the same members of the National Assembly who are presently revelling in obscene wealth at your expense?

Once again, taking the above eight facts as true, where does corruption fit in? Unless, of course, you are saying that Hausa and Fulani, by their political dominance of our political system, introduce and perpetuate corruption at all levels of our political system and all through the entire gamut of what is Nigerian society. Or is corruption no longer an issue? If that is the case, what is the major topic of discussion among Nigerian bloggers on the web? By the way, how is SNC going to eradicate corruption in your new utopia? Unless, once again, you are saying that your own southern political leaders who are presently revelling in unearned wealth at your State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly, would not have been so engaged, but for Hausa and Fulani influence and indoctrination.

Don't get me wrong; I am appalled at the level of control and dominance that few families from the northern part of the country have over our crude oil exploration, as published about a week ago by some of our media houses. I am appalled that our struggle for self-government from Great Britain was delayed because the northern region, represented by Balewa and Ahmadu Bello, was not ready. I am appalled that northern political leaders habitually lie about population density in the north - the facts on the ground and school enrollment and graduation rates do not support that. I am appalled at the 'do or die' attitude of some Northerners to political power, especially control at the centre. I am appalled at the mindless and wanton killing of Nigerians by native northerners, especially Christians and Ndigbo traders in the north. And I am appalled that they used Federal Character to propagate their dominance contrary to the intent and letter of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution and equivalent sections in the previous constitution.

Despite everything, the fact is some of the above indictments would not have happened if Southerners were not greedy and complicit. Everything that the apostles of SNC resent about the north and want to change in the political system is what PDP represents. But members of PDP are everywhere, and chances are that your uncle is one of them. And that is the dominance that the rest of us progressives have to fight. Not the dominance of the Hausa and Fulani as a people, but the dominance of the ruling elite groups.

Lastly, embezzlement, greed, nepotism, squandering of riches, and over-leveraged capitalism (borrowing hugely on behalf of state government, without regard to the interest rate) in the country transcend race and geography. The best approach is a collective effort directed at rooting out those who made them possible. If you cannot talk about separation, at least be bold enough to talk about what makes you mad about Nigeria. And that is what SNC should be about. Do what I just did, tell Nigerians what makes you mad about the North.

Optimism versus Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is the chickens coming home to roost. A child growing up should have a home, a government that cares, and the opportunity to make a choice about what to make of every religious doctrine contrary to the arrested development phenomenon within the Muslim faith in the northern part of the country. There are Muslims in Yoruba land; most of them are well-educated, while others are fairly educated. The same is true of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Iran, just to name a few. Why must northern Nigeria be an exception? 

No matter the level of our understanding of the political, educational, and religious situation in the north, a compulsory, free, and popular education for all children of school-going age – from Elementary School to Grammar School level - would go a long way in shaping the lives of these children and how they embrace religious doctrine when they grow up. 

Education is a right, and it is the best investment in the life of a child. Religion is a choice and should be treated that way. In the northern region, religion and not education is a right, the only avenue, unfortunately, in their unsophisticated deduction, to emancipation. A child capable of imbibing and reciting Quran verses verbatim is capable of deriving quadratic equations in a Mathematics class if allowed to do so. Don’t ask me how. No matter how you look at it, it’s all about effort and the leadership that you have and what their views are on education and specifically, on egalitarianism.

Islam, like any other religion, preaches against immorality and fraud. Also, the Quran does not forbid the integration or teaching of English Language, Arithmetic, Social Studies, and Integrated Sciences side by side with Islamic studies. Christian Missionaries in the Eastern Region, before and after our independence from Great Britain, perfected the integration model perfectly well – Bible, on one hand, English, Mathematics, Civic, and Social Sciences on the other. The same can be replicated in the Northern region concerning religious studies. 

There is no doubt, the Sheikhs, Imams, and the Islamic Scholars ministering to the students would buy into the integration model when framed in good faith and with a genuine intent to integrate the students into the larger society and not to westernise them. As a free and compulsory education advocate, the late Awo wouldn't have had any problem making that pitch for integration before the appropriate agencies. It is not too late to give it a try and rescue these children from the stranglehold of teaching that turned innocent souls into enemies of civilisation.

Lastly, we must not give up on educating these children, because an informed citizenry is the most potent and decisive weapon against false beliefs and extorted indoctrination. No one would buy into the 'western education is forbidden' baloney if regular education was part of his or her adolescence. There must be a distinction to be made between social/moral purity and survival instinct through purposeful engagement in the economic sector. 

God and Allah help those who help themselves. That is a fact and not just a saying. Our Islamic scholars, teachers, and leaders should be willing to embrace changes and accept the fact that religious freedom is most ennobling when combined with economic freedom. The current helplessness of the less privileged in that part of our World is disgraceful and cannot be sustained for too long. Therefore, government intervention in the academic sector at the very early stage in the lives of the affected children would go a long way in shaping their perception and understanding of religion, its social and moral impacts, and the extent of its limitations in the context of economics – creation, distribution, and consumption of wealth. We must start early.

Part IV:

Analysis: Saving the Soul of a Nation

Indeed, the menace of Boko Haram is real, and the threat it poses to north-south unity is real. I am not oblivious to those facts. Be that as it may, Nigeria is greater than Boko Haram, greater than Boko Haram's sponsors, and greater than Boko Haram's intent and mission. We should not surrender to fear, nor retreat in our search for that Nigeria where equal rights and justice are not a mere illusion, but vested, inalienable, and achievable.

Americans fought a bloody civil war, and despite the defeat of the Confederate soldiers by the Union forces and the subsequent declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, the Ku Klux Klan remained defiant in their systemic lynching of free blacks. The fact that the KKK refuses to see the light and embrace the inevitable change (emancipation) did not create mixed feelings in the minds of those Americans who fought gallantly for freedom, for unification, and for equal rights and justice for yesterday's slaves. No, they did not regret participating in the civil war to liberate enslaved African Americans. Just like the KKK, Boko Haram, and Fulani killer herders or marauders are in the minority, and they cannot define what becomes of Nigeria. And no one should regret standing tall for our unity and progress in the face of Boko Haram's senseless crusade, the Fulani herders' conquest mission.

Today, despite everything, America is and still is the only God’s own Country and the only superpower standing. I have no doubt in my mind that saving Nigeria requires enormous sacrifices on the part of each and every one of us; nevertheless, we must remain optimistic, believing that we shall and we are capable of surmounting every impediment on our path to greatness.

Granted, no society can completely eradicate corruption from its system, but quality leadership would go a long way in defining how its citizenry and the society at large react to bribery and corruption. Therefore, more emphasis should be on quality leadership, from the top to the bottom and from north to south.

That being said, any extorted religious indoctrination of the unaffiliated should be treated the way it is - an act of war against the Sovereign. For Nigeria to live up to its promise of one nation and one destiny, it must be willing to mobilise every resource at its disposal to defend threatened rights. Our desire and our love for the good life, intellectual and educational pursuit, freedom of worship, and the pursuit of happiness shall not be compromised. Never, never; we will never compromise on those things that we hold dear to our hearts. We will never bargain away our fundamental rights to associate and worship the way we want or bargain away our inherent rights to educate our kids in any part of Nigeria that we choose, and the way we want. Not now, not any time. We will never surrender in our search for that egalitarian society and a true federal system of government.

Let’s get to work, guys. We deserve better.

God Bless You and God Bless the Good People of Nigeria.

Mr Alex Ehi Aidaghese is a Barrister at law and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). He holds dual LL.M. degrees in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law and Policy from the University of Denver. He also completed a one year master level Certificate of Special Studies (CSS) in Administration and Management from Harvard University. He contributed this essay from Sugar Land, Texas. March 16, 2012

DEVELOPING THE ALMJIRI INTEGRATIVE EDUCATIONAL CONCEPT.

The Almajiri Integrative Educational Model is a system I developed to combine Quranic studies and regular education in Northern Nigeria. It emerged from my research for a paper presented in the Harvard University course, "Oral Communication: Business and Organisational."  That paper compared Federal Character in Nigeria and Affirmative Action in America, exploring the reasons for their implementation and potential solutions to the challenges they address.

America Welcomes Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa of Nigeria, July 1961: 25-28 - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT5m9Fn9RBg

Nigeria: A Progressive Option and Other Challenges

Introduction!

I am progressive and I subscribe to Awoism. I support free education at all levels and an affordable and quality healthcare system in every community and town in Nigeria. I also believe that the government's support of the poor and the needy in the form of a welfare package is necessary because of the circumstances of our birth. I hold these views in good faith, believing that we have the resources to implement them successfully throughout the country. Given the enormity of public funds reportedly embezzled and squandered on frivolous projects yearly by politicians and public office holders since the beginning of the second republic, I do not doubt in my mind that implementation of the programs wouldn't constitute any form of financial burden on us as a nation-state. Besides, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his fellow Action Groupers were able to implement similar programs in the First and Second republics in the old Western Region with a successful outcome. Even then, they never had the luxury of a steady supply of petrodollars of the magnitude that political leaders and civil servants have. The first step is to put in place a formidable framework for revenue drive and plugging leakages and loopholes in our treasury, starting with the abolition of the modern-day legalised fraud popularly referred to as the security vote.

In addition, ours is the only country in the developing world where someone could become a multimillionaire overnight, not necessarily on account of their rare business acumen, but from the illicit use of closeness to power or proceeds from lucrative oil blocs fraudulently and arbitrarily acquired during military governments. 

Without any doubt, a significant portion of our earnings from crude oil is under private control. Simply put, there is more money in private hands than reasonably prudent to fund our educational and healthcare programs at a level comparable to what obtains in developed countries. There is no denying the fact that the underfunding of our educational and healthcare sectors is traceable to the power game that is perfected by the ruling party at any given time. Which, of course, they do in collaboration with serving and retired Military Officers and their acolytes in and out of government. These groups do not have a problem travelling overseas for medical checkups. In a similar vein, they don't have difficulties paying for their kids to obtain a quality education from top universities in Europe and North America. Where else, but only in Nigeria, that a civil servant afford to sponsor his kids to top universities in the UK and North America, paying with cash? Something that American civil servants cannot do.

Searching For an Ideological Framework in Nigeria:

Today, no political party in Nigeria stands for anything ideologically defined. For a start, PDP, the ruling political party, does not stand for something that you and I can relate to. You cannot readily categorise any school of thought as a trademark of the party or the brain work of the leadership of the party. The same is true of other political parties in Nigeria. 

For instance, Papa Awo and UPN stood for Free Education at all levels. President Shehu Shagari and the NPN stood for Quality Education. Like it or not, the Republican Party in the U.S. espouses limited government and lower taxes. I stand to be corrected, PDP, ACN, Labour, and CPC, just name the political party in Nigeria, and none of them has any distinct ideological label or ascertainable political philosophy known to a man worthy of embrace. Be it in education, healthcare, or the real economy, to create more jobs and improve public welfare, it is always trial and error. Every successive administration defines its own "vision 20:20" or "new millennium" baloney. 

For eight years, President Obasanjo was ensconced in the comfort of Aso Rock, strategising on how to emasculate the opposing forces within and outside of his political party. He was more interested in how to prolong the duration of his presidency than in building a sustainable framework for economic expansion. 

While he was busy complicating affairs at the federal level, at the state and local government levels, and even in states controlled by his political party, it was unjust enrichment galore for all the Governors. Junketing to North America and Western Europe at regular intervals and buying exotic properties along the way became the custom rather than the exception within the Governor's class. 

And on a sad note, there was no national policy on healthcare or educational advancement. Those leading the different political parties hadn't the faintest idea why they are in politics or the race for power. 

For instance, what is the national policy on health care? None. That is what is still missing in our democratic process presently - motivations in power. They have no clue why they are in government, other than to feed fat on public funds that they never labour to generate. 

Thanks to the abundant supply of free money from crude oil. There is no discernible ideological framework or political philosophy, or leadership objectives to pursue to raise funds similar to what Papa Awo did concerning the funding of free education, or as President George Bush did on tax cuts for the rich. The motivations for power are the same throughout the country. It is either, it is my turn to serve or it is the turn of my tribe to present the next President or Governor. It is never what I have to offer or how my political party is better than the others.

The need to have a consistent public policy set goals cannot be over-emphasized. It doesn't bode well for sustainable economic development and effectiveness in the public sector. Thus, making the game change politically inevitable and morally imperative at this point in our beloved country.

Game Change!

It is a known fact that the other political parties bungled an opportunity of a lifetime when they couldn't mobilise and rally around a common candidate or an electable candidate throughout the period the late President Yar'Adua was bedridden. They stood still while PDP battled itself out to overcome its zoning formula as if it were the only political party in Nigeria. Once bitten, twice shy. Critical time calls for critical measures. There is an imperative need, therefore, for an alternative political party to the PDP, both in terms of personality, policies, and programs, to emerge as soon as possible. And I am laying the groundwork for the formation of that brand new party starting from this moment and on this very Blog. 

Presently, PDP is creating a one-party state through the back door - the number of committees and study groups the President has so far created or is creating is more than necessary to serve the important government goals. Don't be fooled, this President is a chip off the old block. He is a PDP in flesh and blood - once a PDP, always a PDP. What is most troubling right now is that ACN and Labour do not have leadership with a commanding presence at the national level to match the political strength and influence of PDP heavyweights operating from behind the scenes. 

That said, progressives and Nigerians, in general, should realise that despite the systemic failure of the opposition at the national level and the systematic emasculation of the opposition parties at the national level, PDP can still be defeated at a general election. It is a question of time. 

The first step is to separate the wheat from the chaff within the progressive cycle. There are numerous political parties in our country today, without any distinctive manifestos. Each masquerades as a real alternative to the PDP, without any clear-cut objectives. Within these parties, you have pockets of real progressives labouring in vain to find a voice, while interlopers and career politicians hold sway and call the shots. 

For instance, the fact that you wear an Awo hat doesn't make you an Awoist or imbue you with Awo's values or his leadership virtues. Do you profess Awoism? Are you willing to apply his thoughts to the best of your ability, taking into account the volume of resources within your control? That is the test. It's all about pragmatism. The policy comes first before any consideration of how to procure the revenue. That is the test. Besides, you don’t have to be an Afenifere to wear the crown. After all, Professor Claude Ake, who introduced “Awo” as a course in his Faculty at the University of Calabar, was not in any shape or form a politician or of the Yoruba race. But he was simply an authentic witness to the accomplishment of the late sage and decided to propagate his message and what he stood for to the younger generations. Awoism shouldn't be about slogans and rhetoric, but action. And I will ensure its passage throughout the breadth and length of this country before I die. God is on my side. Awo meant well, and his dreams shall be fulfilled. 

In a similar vein, the fact that you exude Aminu Kano's populist activism image doesn't make you a lover of the talakawa or a talakawa sympathiser. Do you have what it takes to organise with righteous intent and with a purpose exclusively for the benefit of the underclass? Are you willing to practice social equality and egalitarianism? How many people have you liberated from poverty, decadence, and mental slavery? Are you willing to accept that there are people in your midst deserving of freedom and economic emancipation? Those are the tests.

Northern Intellectuals and the New Challenges!

A few days ago, I watched “America Welcomes Prime Minister Abubakar Balewa of Nigeria, July 1961: 25-28” posted on my blog at http://hamiltonatlarge.blogspot.com/, and I was struck by his command of the English Language as well as his verbal prowess. He was polished, distinguished, and in full command of the audience and the situation everywhere he went in the United States of America. The more I watch him, the more I yearn for more of him. And if I may add, I am disappointed, highly disappointed in light of the recent development in our socio-cultural scene. 

It is profoundly unbelievable that the same region that produced that icon is in a state of disarray right now. Yes, the same region that produced these eminent gentlemen and scholars - Ibrahim Tahir, Jubrin Aminu, Adamu Ciroma, Bala Usman, Abubakar Umar, Usuf Maitama Sule (the polemic), Gambari, Ibrahim Ayagi, Jega, Rufai, Babangida Aliyu, Ango Abdullahi, Adamu Baike, Justice Kutigi, Justice Bello and Justice Belgore, just to name a few- is now under a state of anomie. The region is under the spell of religious sects, unleashing mayhem on unprotected innocent Nigerians and foreigners under the cover of darkness. And we grieve in silence for the victims, without a name. If education is haram, the gentlemen listed above would have been a bunch of nincompoops. 

Surprisingly though, and of course, most disappointingly, contemporary northern intellectuals and the educated elite groups who are, no doubt, the direct beneficiaries of the feudal educational largess (full scholarship, lucrative, and strategic job placement in government and public sectors upon graduation) are now blaming the pervasive bombing the campaign by the Boko Haram sect on marginalization and poverty. 

More surprising is the fact that these privileged, educated elite groups suffer no equivocation when justifying Boko Haram's barbarism on every available space in social media.

Here is the dilemma: How do you make a change when those who ought to be at the forefront of change are the direct beneficiaries of the policies that made the call for change inevitable? 

This is not an abstract academic exercise - it is the fact on the ground in the north. And that is the first huddle that those of us who think change is possible must first overcome. 

Let me digress a bit: Southerners, without any doubt, resent feudalism and its inherent class system. Anyway, it is the same feudal system that made it possible for the overwhelming majority of the vocal mavericks of northern extraction to acquire the quality education they have acquired at home and abroad from first-level Universities. Sadly, these are the same people that southerners progressives like me want to align with to defeat feudalism. That is the dilemma. 

Here is my approach to the thesis.

In light of the current development in Nigeria, it is incumbent on the part of the vocal northern intellectuals to rebel against the oligarchic system in principle to collaborate with the progressives of the south to create a political culture that would benefit everyone equally. Given the scale of unrest in the north, rebelling against feudal philosophy that perpetuates class-system becomes a moral obligation in light of (1) the appalling discontent as well as the obscene disconnect between the nouveau riche and the talakawa, (2) the enormous wealth flowing to certain families in the north from lucrative oil blocs appropriated during the past military regimes, which is more than enough to develop the entire northern region, and (3) the unpredictable nature of the class the warfare that would engulf the region should status quo remain unchanged. Therefore, it is a choice: it is either you (Mavericks and militant intellectuals) step out of your protective closets and align with other progressives and help to build a sustainable human and economic development throughout the northern region and Nigeria at large, or you remain ensconced in your El Dorado and suffer the Qaddafi's foolhardiness in the long run. The ball is in your court. I rest my case.

A Progressive Approach to Sovereign National Conference and Leadership Change!

As things stand now, it is time for both divides (progressives and northern mavericks) to reach out across the Niger and the Benue for that elusive handshake and develop a new narrative for a nationwide progressive movement. Not just an alliance, to win the next Presidential election, but a coherent and virile, politically conscious movement, a grassroots-based political party for wresting power from the past generations represented by the PDP. 

The Progressives and the intellectual class, especially those living overseas, can no longer stand by and watch as the political situation at home deteriorates and step up later to blame the collapse on the usual suspect: greedy politicians, oligarchic feudal lords, and greedy administrators and bankers and all the Halliburton in our midst. No, it is time we step into any perceived void and fight for a new start.

Simply put, at this juncture, the issue is no longer about what Lord Lugard did or did not do, or whether amalgamation was a curse or a blessing, but on how to make the 'Geographical Expression' (apology to Papa Awo) live up to its promise. If there is no promise, create one. If there is no dream, create one from that which we fantasise and blog about daily.

Progressives and Nigerians, in general, should rest assured that Nigeria is not going anywhere and it is not for sale. And it will not go extinct in 2015. We cannot and we must not fail again.

You cannot talk about change without the wisdom to identify brilliant minds, courageous and well-grounded Nigerians imbued with the leadership traits and acumen to lead the change. Gentlemen like Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Nassir El'Rufai, and Dr. Olu Agunloye have the integrity and leadership wherewithal to bring Nigeria to par with emerging economies of the World. 

It takes enlightenment to know the enlightened, and leadership traits to discern leadership attributes in others. And I know about leadership. The main reason I settled for the three gentlemen mentioned in the above paragraph.

As you brainstorm on your potential choice or choices, remember that no man is infallible. And as Jesus Christ would say: he who is without sin, cast the first stone! I hold this view specifically about the yet-to-be-proven allegation of fraudulent land grab by Mr. El-Rufai in favour of his family members while he was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Until he is tried and convicted, let's avoid the call for his crucifixion on the pages of our newspaper. 

At this juncture, I would like to add that Wazobia or Federal Character did not play any role in my selection process. I was looking for (1) sound and verifiable academic and public service credentials, (2) familiarity with emerging global trends regarding international laws, technological innovations, and foreign investments (3) in-depth knowledge and understanding of the so-call "Nigeria Question", (4) audacity and creativity, (5) tested/preparedness, (6) flexibility and ability to confront unanticipated developments within and outside Nigeria, and (7) ability to lead, command, and inspire others. I implore you to pick your candidate or candidates, and then we will do a comparative analysis.

Thinking Aloud: 

Every Friday and every Sunday, we congregate in our places of worship, asking for God's Blessings. Why not? He is a forgiving God. Japan, the State of Israel, and Switzerland do not have what we have in terms of natural endowments. 

We are blessed, guys. Nigeria is blessed. Take a look at us: Kano (groundnuts, cotton, and textile); Ondo (cocoa); East (coal and merchants); Niger Delta (crude oil and gas); Benue and the Plateau (arable land for yam, rice, tomatoes, etc.); the Esan Tribe- my beloved Esan - arable land for yam, cassava, rubber, and Palm oil, just to name a few. What else can a given people possibly want from God or the Creator?

Right now, there is a consensus on what ails Nigeria as a country: endemic corruption, leadership crisis, trust deficit, insecurity, and Boko Haram. Most Nigerians do believe that the solution lies in solving our leadership problem first, and every other thing would fall into place. Others believe it is either the almighty SNC or nothing. But I beg to differ. I made my pitch based on the probability of the likely occurrence or happening of each of the options in our lifetime. If the probability of its happening now is unpredictable, because it is based on the happening of another set of facts not within the control of those making the demand, then it is a no-go area. If it is happening, independent of the control or influence of the power that be, I am for it. I will explain later.

SNC, endemic corruption, Boko Haram, and trust deficit are trademarks of a leadership crisis. It doesn't matter whether you have an Awo, a Balewa, or Zik at the head, the religious crisis is a never-ending problem, and the ability to curtail them is what makes the difference. That again is all about the leader that you have. Now you know where I am going.

Leadership Change or SNC?

Boko Haram is a chicken coming home to roost. A child growing up should have an opportunity to choose what to make of every religious doctrine. There are Muslims in Yorubaland; most of them are very educated, and some are fairly educated. The same is true of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Iran, just to name a few. Why must northern Nigeria be any different? 

A compulsory and free elementary and secondary education would make a huge difference in the life of a child, especially in how he or she perceives religious doctrine and how it impacts their life subsequently. The situation on the ground in northern Nigeria is a testament. That again is a leadership issue. 

Education is a right. Religion is a choice. In the northern region, the reverse is the case - religion trumps education in terms of accessibility and importance. No matter how you look at it, it still comes down to the leadership that you have and what their views are on education and specifically, on egalitarianism. Therefore, the need for a new order concerning popular education for all children cannot be overemphasised.

On the issue of the Sovereign National Conference, I am yet to see an essay on the subject detailing why it is necessary and why it is the solution to our problems. The most disturbing aspect of the agitation for SNC is that those making the demands cannot give an intelligible outline of why they want SNC. It is all about what we want SNC, without taking some steps to digress on your thought.

Here, I can only hazard some excuses. However, I do stand to be corrected. (1) Nigeria is not developing as expected because of the inclusion of the Hausas and the Fulanis in the union, (2) abuse of the Federal Character and Quota System by the Fulanis and the Hausa who dominate the political system, (3) the barbaric nature and the indiscriminate massacre associated with the religious crisis in the north, (4) the inordinate power ambition of the Hausa and the Fulani groups (5) the monopoly of the oil wealth by the same Hausa and Fulani groups, (6) the un-education of a greater majority northern children, and (7) the quality of leaders that the northern feudal or oligarchic class imposes on the rest of us at the national level. Now, ask yourself, are northerners responsible for all these, without you playing a part or some parts? 

Taking these seven facts as true, can you possibly develop a compelling case for disintegration or reasonable ground to convene an SNC out of them? If the answer is yes, who is going to convene or approve the conference? Is it the same President Goodluck Jonathan elected by Nigerians to serve the whole country for four years? Or is it the same members of the National Assembly revelling in obscene wealth right now at your expense? If the President and the National Assembly agree to approve an SNC, have you given any thought on how the delegates should be selected and who should be selected and by whom? If you are reading this piece right now, have you been to your village in the past ten years? Would the mandate of the delegates override the power of the National Assemblies to make laws for and on behalf of the Nigerian people? That is the dilemma. Implementation, Implementation, Implementation. 

Here again, I stand to be corrected, SNC is a long haul and it is full of uncertainties; therefore, we should not foreclose on other options. 

Granted, Progressives do not have control over convening SNC, but they do have control over how and when they want to start a progressive accord or a brand new political party. They don't need the Parliament or the Presidency for approval. 

That is my position, and that is why I am in favour of a concerted grass-roots political movement at the instance of the progressives and the economically dislocated Nigerians. The goal must be focused on rooting out those who debased and corrupted our political system, sold our girls to slavery, popularised kidnapping, turned religion into a weapon of war, and created an economic system that popularised undue influence, militancy, illiteracy, and oil bunkering. 

In addition, the massive scale of corruption in the country transcends race and geography. Also, the fragility of our sovereignty presently calls for a proactive approach that is timely, decisive, and certain. 

Above all, the realisation of the progressive movement is not contingent on the occurrence of a set of facts that are subject to an unfettered discretion given to a single individual - the President or the Legislators. In other words, a concerted political movement by the progressives is not subject to the discretionary approval of any individual or group of individuals, be it the President or the National Assembly. The Progressives are free to roll at any time. 

Moving Forward!

We cannot move forward or solve our problems by running away from them. The situation in the north requires a concerted approach from federal and state governments, traditional rulers, religious groups, and northern intellectuals, who are the major supporters of Boko Haram based on their postings and comments on social media. Adding to that, the political dominance of the Fulani and the Hausa groups is what it is because your fathers, Mothers, Uncles, Friends, and Kings and Queens are complicit. They know that you are unrepentantly greedy. They take advantage of it, buy your conscience with your own money, and corrupt the system more. That is our national disease that does not require consultation or dialogue, or an SNC to redress or address. First, you must change yourself. 

Concerning the abuse of Federal Character, Quota System, and the state of origin concept, a valid case could be made before the Constitutional Review Committee for a review and rectification, where appropriate, to prevent the elevation of mediocrity at the expense of excellence and credibility. The state of origin concept and its application in our recruitment and examination purposes is anathema to social and political integration. It does not take into account the physical elements and characteristics of a particular state. Every child should be able to answer the name of the state of his birth as his state of origin. These are some of the issues that the CRC needs to address. Again, we don't have to wait for SNC to address these issues when we have a progressive leader at the national level.

Indeed, the menace of Boko Haram is real and the threat it poses to north-south cohesion is real. I am not oblivious to those facts. But Nigeria is greater than Boko Haram, greater than Boko Haram's sponsors, and greater than Boko Haram's intent and mission. We should not surrender to fear, nor retreat in our search for that Nigeria where equal rights and justice are not a mere illusion, but vested, inalienable, and achievable. 

I want to reiterate, those who made the call for disintegration, divisive narrative, SNC, and Boko Haram possibly are the enemies of true federalism and they are the ones that must go. I am not in denial as some bloggers would like to argue. No option should be taken off the table. SNC is but a part of many options.

At this juncture, it is my humble opinion that asking that we should delay or postpone solving pressing national problems until a Sovereign National Conference is convened borders on defeatism and weakness. It is analogous to the GOP's refusal to engage President Obama in finding lasting solutions to the lingering US unemployment and associated problems until President Obama is defeated. First, how do you know that President Obama is going to be defeated or that any Nigerian President and the National Assembly, for that matter, would convene a Sovereign National Conference in your lifetime? Second, what would you do in the interim? Do nothing and wait for the system to collapse or rectify itself? If you have a genuine case for SNC, start presenting it right away at meetings and conferences.

Conclusion:

As a culturally diverse and widely read quintessential global gentleman, I know what leadership entails and what it takes to build and stabilise a complex nation-state like Nigeria. I will be the last person to call for the dismantling of this country because I know in my heart that the problems that confront us are surmountable. I am very proud of my Nigerian roots, and no Boko Haram or 419ers can take that away from me. 

Americans fought a bloody civil war, and despite the defeat of the Confederate soldiers by the Union forces and the subsequent declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, the Ku Klux Klan remained defiant in their systemic lynching of free blacks. The fact that the KKK refuses to see the light and embrace the inevitable change (emancipation) did not create mixed feelings in those Americans who fought gallantly for freedom, unification, and equal rights and justice for yesterday's slaves. So we should and must not allow the scourge of Boko Haram to divide us. 

Some see religion as part of living. One group can see reason with the views held by others and accommodate those views unconditionally, which makes the difference. Be that as it may, any attempt by anyone group to engage in forceful indoctrination of the unaffiliated should be treated the way it is - an act of war against the sovereign. It should never be interpreted as just another attack on innocent Nigerians. For Nigeria to live up to its promise of one nation and one destiny, it must be willing to apply every resource at its disposal to defend threatened rights.

Today, despite everything, America is the only God’s Own Country and the only Superpower still standing. I do not doubt in my mind that saving Nigeria requires enormous sacrifices on the part of every one of us. Nevertheless, we must remain optimistic believing firmly that we shall and we are capable of surmounting every natural or manmade inhibition on our path to progress. Our goal for sustainable economic development, human protection of Human Rights, mental and psychological emancipation, and peaceful co-existence must consider vested rights.

Therefore, our desire for one cohesive entity, our love for the good life, respect for one another, intellectual and educational drive, freedom of worship, and the pursuit of happiness shall not be compromised. Never, never; we will never compromise on those things that we hold dear to our hearts. We will never bargain away our fundamental rights to associate and worship the way we want or bargain away our inherent rights to educate our kids in any part of Nigeria that we choose. Not now, not any time. We will never surrender.

That should be the new mantra - the goal and vision of the new order.

God Bless You and God Bless the Good People of Nigeria.

Mr. Alex Aidaghese