Leadership Crisis vs Sovereign National Conference: The Way Forward.

Over the years, I have deliberately excused myself from the call for SNC, because I still believe that leadership and corruption epidemic are the major problems confronting Nigeria as a nation-state. My other fear is that when SNC is eventually convened, the same old political careerists who debased and wrecked this great nation would have control over the selection of potential delegates to the conference. And thirdly, the people making the call do not have a clear message. There is no existing coherent strategy for its actualization.

Historically, the idea for an SNC was originally conceived by the progressives and social activists (not political careerists) in order to wrest power from the over bloated and under-performing power clique at the center headed by the Military. As it is today, the demand has been unduly politicized to the extent that any mention of SNC is perceived as a call for disintegration of Nigeria. And that is a misconception that must be corrected fast.

In addition, SNC has no visible leadership at the moment. What is going on behind the scene is basically power play – political careerists, presently left out of power and influence, have resorted to agitating for SNC, making it a north versus south affair. They hijacked it and transformed it into a struggle for power between it and the often reviled northern power elite groups. That is an insider war that southern progressives and social activists must first win - taking the demand out of the reach and control of politicians. 

SNC, as originally created is not an exercise in vain. But it has to be refined and given a new meaning to sync with realities on the ground. There are fundamental national issues that need to be addressed - Nigerian secular nature, free education at all level, religion and the state, population, regional autonomy, the un-education of greater majority of northern children by successive northern administrators, and finally, land ownership and division of offshore mineral deposit between the coastal states and the central government.

It is not enough to give a one liner argument, stating that you need a Sovereign National Conference, without actually saying why you need it. We had enough of the noise about the mistake of 1914 and the amalgamation brouhaha. Be substantive. Take a cue from conservative Northern Governors; they don't debate issues they consider sacrosanct or germane to their political, cultural, and religious interests with anyone outside of the geographical north. For instance, the promulgation of Sharia Law or the introduction of Native Police in most part of the northern region was never a subject of national referendum oe debate. It doesn't matter whether it benefits the generality of northern residents or the rest of the country, provided that the ruling class (northern political leaders and northern Governors) are secured in their hold on power. 

Therefore, SNC is for progressives to lose. The untold truth is that there is no southern or progressive agenda, as we have a northern and conservative agenda, headed by the Arewa Consultative Group or Forum, and supported by the Northern Governor Association. What we have in the south is a collection of political interest groups masquerading as concerned citizens and activists, without a clear purpose and mandate. Also, there is no marriage of thoughts existing between SNC advocates, Southern Governors, and members of the National Assembly from the region.

That void must first be arrested for southern consensus and progressive agenda to evolve and given effect at the national level. The involvement of members of the National Assembly of southern heritage is sacrosanct to addressing the grievances underlying the demand for SNC. 

Therefore, you must first identify those issues and grievances succinctly and articulate them unambiguously to develop winnable argument and populist agenda. Finally, if you cannot articulate the issues, which in fact is true, set up a body to advice you on the subject similar to what the Northern Governors did few months ago with respect to the PIB - Petroleum Industry Bill. You cannot continue talking about change, if you cannot articulate the change or changes that you desire. Second step: Organize, organize, and organize. You don't have to wait for the President and the National Assembly to intervene and approve of your demand, before you start the briefing process through summit and conferences. Third step: Know your audience, and speak the English that people can easily understand. 

Finally, the complexities inherent in the governance of Nigeria as a single sovereign-nation, as we have seen and experienced over the years, makes distorted federalism expendable - something we can do with, and in its place have true semi-autonomous regional government. Over the decades, it has been proven beyond doubt that Federal Government cannot police and protect our wealth and riches. At the same time, it lacks the ability and the strategic wherewithal to manage and apply the wealth and the riches equitably for sustainable use and benefit for everyone. Therefore, there is no reasonable ground allowing the central government to remain in complete and perpetual control of the wealth and the riches of our great nation. Thus, making the call for decentralization of power from the over-bloated central government to the component units or regional councils a compelling consideration.

In a nutshell, the problems described here at the federal level have been with us for ages. It is the handiwork of the same political and business leaders with power and influence who dominate our political system and benefit immensely from the spineless federal government. It has become too monstrous and too complex for the leadership clique to manage. Therefore, we should, without equivocation, develop some mechanisms to take power back to the people. Let's start the discussion from there. You already have enough talking points from this article. It is not a northern issue or a southern issue. It is a national question. Let's meet and organize. SNC might not happen in your life time. If it does happen, Nigeria wins and it is fine with me.