Of Tom/Nuhu's Defection and the Disappearance/Search for Idea-Based Opposition Parties in the Nigerian Political System!

See Some Excerpts From: "Game Change: The Uncertainty of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and A Case for Progressive Option", written March 16, 2012

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 are more than necessary by any Government or Ministry to function effectively. They are systematically co-opting members of the opposition parties and retired technocrats into the government stealthily and openly, with a view to decapitating alternative voices and the opposition parties.

Don't be fooled, President Jonathan 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 Labor [presently, APC] do not have leaders with a commanding presence at the national level to match the political strength and influence of PDP heavy weights lurking behind the political scene. Adding to that, none has the credibility or records of performance to brand a contrast and mount a vigorous nation-wide campaign to oust the ruling class from power at the national level.

Moving Forward:

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

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

In other words, 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 Calabar, 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 (Awoism) to the younger generations via classroom setting was quite understandable. So, it is mandatory; Awoism shouldn't be about slogan and rhetoric, but action and performance. Right now, there are no traces of Awoism or the philosophy of Pa Awo in any of the registered  political parties in Nigeria. 

In similar vein, the fact that you exude an Aminu Kano's populist activism or image doesn't make you a lover of the talakawa or a talakawa sympathizer. Do you have what it takes to organize with righteous intent, designed exclusively to serve the under-class? 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 socio-economic emancipation? That is the test. Alex Aidaghese, March 16, 2012

It's time true PROGRESSIVES stand out and be counted. It's time true PROGRESSIVES stop running after political leaders who have never in their actions or utterances profess egalitarianism or populist principles in governing process. It's time commentators in the social media who espouse progressive and populist principles stop whining and crying over defection of the Toms, the Nuhus, and all the Femis of our body politic to where they truly belong - the conservative block. It's time non-aligned progressives and non-political progressives storm the Nigerian Political Scene by any means necessary and rescue the progressive movement from interlopers, and positioning it in line with the thoughts and visions of the Enahorohs and the Soyinkas, the Pa Awos, and the true maverick of Nigerian politics, Malam Aminu Kano. We cannot save Nigeria without changing it. President Jonathan, granted, is not originally from the usual power clique; nevertheless, his presidency is a vital element of the status quo, an extension of the IBB/Obasanjo hegemony. Therefore, the narrative shouldn't just be about how to kick GEJ out of Aso Rock, but about dislodging PDP as a political party from managing our political system. That was where Tinubu and Buhari and the entire leadership of APC got it wrong. GEJ is a broda; not just to me, but to most minority men. If you take the fight personal, as you have been doing, most guys will rally round him. If, on the other hand, you direct the fight at his political party (PDP) on ideological ground, you stand a better chance of getting new supporters and nation-wide acceptance.

Ferguson: Of Race Relations and the Persecution of Michael Brown!

Why we need to address race relations in a thoughtful, provocative way!

"But the perfection of the metaphor is soon blurred by facts. The gentle giant, Michael Brown Jr.–nicknamed Bodyguard by his friends–seems pretty intimidating in a surveillance video, in which he is seen taking cigarillos from a convenience store, tossing the diminutive clerk into a snack display as if he were a bag of Doritos. The alleged robbery occurs 10 minutes before the confrontation with the cop. The inevitable Rev. Al Sharpton says the video is an attempt to “smear” the young man. Then more facts emerge, and other eyewitnesses allegedly describe a more aggressive Michael Brown–more like the fellow in the video. An autopsy, requested by Brown’s parents, shows six bullet wounds; the kill shot is into the top of the victim’s head–which raises another possibility, that the officer, Darren Wilson, fired in self-defense. And now we have a metaphor of a different, far more difficult sort: about the uncanny ability of Americans to talk past each other when it comes to race relations, and also about the struggle between facts and metaphoric truths." "Beyond a Simple Solution for Ferguson" by Joe Klein:TIME

A Common Sense Analysis of Michael Brown's Shooting Based on Eye Wittiness Accounts:

In the words of Mr. Joe Klein, "An autopsy, requested by Brown’s parents, shows six bullet wounds; the kill shot is into the top of the victim’s head–which raises another possibility, that the officer, Darren Wilson, fired in self-defense." Is Mr. Klein saying that, if a shot is fired to the top of a victim's head, it can only be explained as been fired in self-defense? Where is the nexus between "... the kill shot ... into the top of the victim's head" and the "...fired in self-defense?”  Mr. Joe Klein, I think you ran out of words or ideas to justify your self-defense proposition. The second poser, which Mr. Joe Klein did not address is with respect to the height of Michael Brown. One is at loss, going by Mr. Joe Klein's theory, as to whether Michael Brown was diminutive; thus, making it possible for Officer Wilson to shoot him right on top of his head? How could that have happened! Michael Brown was a Six Footer; much taller than Officer Wilson. Or is Mr. Joe Klein insinuating that Officer Wilson extended his hand and gun above Michael Brown's head before firing the "kill shot" at the top of his head? How? 

How was it possible for Officer Wilson to fire at the top of Michael Brown's head, when it is quit obvious that Michael Brown was not diminutive. Mr. Klein, you are not making any sense here in your piece. You alluded to a self-defense possibility, without actually providing ascertainable facts to buttress your suggested possibility that the Officer acted in self-defense. How could a shot to the top of the victim's head be interpreted to result from the Officer's intent to defend himself? You are trying to justify a clear case of murder in cold blood as being a product of self-defense.

Where was the threat or imminent threat of infliction of bodily harm or injury? Where was the attack with a deadly weapon? By the way, where was "The Officer" - the training, the maintenance of peace and order - in Officer Wilson during the encounter with late Michael Brown?

Besides, where are the facts? And at what point in the investigation did they start to blur the "perfection of the metaphor?' That he was not shot? That he had a loaded gun? Or that he was a gentle giant who dwarfed the store owner? Are these the facts that vitiate the crime; thus, blurring the "perfection of the metaphor?" You are simply playing with words.

Mr. Joe Klein (The Anonymous), Officer Wilson fired the killer shot, while Michael Brown was going down or already down. If Officer Wilson had stopped firing when Michael Brown was collapsing (that is after the first four or five gun shots), "the kill shot" to the brain would not have happened, and Michael Brown would not have died.

It is very disappointing seeing how some of you in the news media are laboring strenuously to create a compelling, but false narrative for justifiable homicide - talking about "other eyes witnesses" in the abstract, when you cannot mention any name to buttress or substantiate your subliminal hogwash.

I do not know what happened between Officer Wilson and Michael Brown in the car. What we do know is that there was a contact between Michael Brown and Officer Wilson in the car. Michael Brown walked away from Officer Wilson and his car. As he was walking away, Officer Wilson came out of his car and fired at Michael Brown. And from all the eyes witnesses' accounts, Michael Brown was still backing Officer Wilson, when the first gun shot was fired. Hearing the gun shot - a possibility that the first gun shot hit Michael in the hand - he turned around to face Officer Wilson. At that point in time all the eyes witnesses said Michael Brown had his hands up in the air - fearing for his life and in total surrender. But it was too late.

Officer Wilson did not budge; he continued firing. Then, again, according to all the eyes witnesses, Michael Brown jerked. And as he was collapsing to the ground or already on the ground, Officer Wilson fired "the kill shot" straight to his brain - that is on top of his head, according to Mr. Joe Klein's own analysis. So, where is the self-defense possibility theory? How could a guy with his hands in the air, going down in hail of bullets, pose a threat to Officer Wilson to elicit a self-defense theory? How?

It is practically impossible, under the circumstance, for Officer Wilson to have fired "the kill shot" to the top of Michael Brown's head, while Michael Brown was still standing. From all indications, the guy was already down or going down before the fatal shot - the shot to the brain. There is no fact in the case to support your theory of "possibility" that Officer Wilson was acting or acted in self-defense. Shame on you, Mr. Joe Klein; this is a disappointing act. If you have no fact, stay away from theory or hypothesis.

Mr. Joe Klein, with due respect, you cannot possibly be talking about the "need to address race relations in a thoughtful, provocative way", and at the same time (1) finding grace in justifying a racially influenced callous act (murder) and (2), laboring to discredit an impugn the integrity of those who have sacrificed their lives and time in service of oppressed black men and brown men in the larger society. Who vouch for the Trayvon Martins? Not you and your fellow media commentators. Some one has to do it. How he or she attained such status is immaterial, as long as the voice of the voiceless is heard.

MOVING FORWARD:

In spite of everything, I am vehemently and unequivocally against disrespecting, shooting or killing of Police Officers by any one. There is no homicide that I consider as reprehensible or egregious as the killing of Police Officers, children and pregnant women. They deserve our unconditional support and protection. Every profession has its own bad eggs, and the Police Force is not an exception. To ensure cordial and peaceful relationship between the civil society and members of the Police Force, it is required that those at the receiving end display unconditional level of cooperation, when dealing with Police Officers. It is that simple. But first, you MUST love yourself and value your life. If you do, chances are that you will eliminate, or at least, reduce the chances of being shot at by the Police.

BROTHERS, PLEASE NEVER RESIST ARREST - ANY ARREST. The "all we are asking for is justice" as most bereaved families are fond of telling news men/women after every fatal shot by Police Officers is not good enough - no amount of justice, imprisonment of the killer or compensation to the family of the victims can take the place of the victim. There is no alternative to a living. 

The situation in Ferguson City paints an ugly picture of Black realities in present day America. For a City that is almost 70% African American to have only 3 Officers out of a Police Unit of 53 Officers is slavery reincarnated. Ferguson is not alone. There are other cities and communities all over the United States, where African Americans, though in majority, are completely left out in the political system. On this very issue, African Americans do not have any one to blame, but themselves.

In addition, there is no excuse for voter fatigue. People fought and died for you to be able to vote. The more pronounced voter apathy is, the more unrepresented African Americans remain in the power game. In other words, the more African Americans are disconnected from the political system, the more of the Ferguson experience and the more isolated African American will remain in the distribution of offices and wealth.

Indeed, there are entrenched social inequities, poverty and disillusionment within the black communities,  but you cannot make a break-through without taking action at family, local and community levels. It's all about education and organization.

A Million Man Match should be a yearly affair. It is disgusting seeing a picture of a sane and grown up man, ready to go to college, taking something that does not belong to him by force, and threatening the store owner in the process.

Booker T. Washington, in spite of the overwhelming uncertainties that accompanied his growing up, never wavered on his dream to acquire the advanced education he eavesdropped on some men talked about inside of the mine where he was working as an unlettered adolescence.

There and then, young Booker T made up his mind to go to school and acquire that education. First he had to save the stipends he is earning working in the mine, not for the anticipated school fees, but for transportation to the unknown land where the institution was. He did that for one year, using his Step-Father as his Bank. When the time came for his Step-Father to give account, he had nothing to offer the young man. Booker T persevered and  continued to save again for another year. At the end of the second year, he embarked on the journey that would change his life and those of African American of later generations, starting with Tuskegee Institute. Please see "Up From Slavery" - The Autobiography of Booker T. Washington." It is a good read, and I recommend it for every American Teenager. 

My brother, love yourself. If you are a High School dropped-out, GED is an alternative. Ask 50 Cent (Mr. Curtis Jackson) how to do it. High School is not enough. If the late TUPAC wasn't a voracious reader, he would never have been the prolific songwriter that he was. Also, take a look at the children of African immigrants in your classrooms; they are college bound after high school graduation. There is no better alternative. 

Brothers, learn from President Obama; at his adolescence, his Dad was a no show. His Mom was there, but far far away. At Occidental College, he knew he has to make a move to stay alive and better his life. After just two years, he transferred to Columbia University in New York City, and later, to Harvard Law School. Today, he is American First Black President. His Mom and Dad were not there when he took that decision to say bye bye to Occidental College. Guys, you can do the same. Stay out of the streets. Stay at School and get your High School Diploma and a Bachelor Degree. You will like the experience.

Policing With Human Face:

At this juncture, I would like to add that given the circumstances surrounding the killing of Michael Brown and another young black man in the same State of Missouri few days ago, it is high time those responsible for the training of Police Officers in the United States of America, shift focus from how to kill black men during confrontation without going to jail or getting indicted. It is my humble suggestion that focus should be on how to demobilize the potential victims, if the need be, without killing them.

In other words, the training shouldn't be on how to kill "them niggers" - knowing full well that you have plethora of laws to defend your killing - but on how to eliminate the danger and save lives in the process. For instance, shooting Michael Brown in the legs would have successfully demobilized him instantly, without posing any harm to Officer Wilson. He was not in possession of a deadly weapon, and Officer Wilson was certainly not in any shape or form faced with imminent threat of bodily harm, injury, or death.

The fact that Michael Brown was walking away, and in fact, had his hands up during the shooting, reinforces the widely heard view that African American men are nothing but disposable objects in the minds of Police Officers in America. At this point in time, empowerment of grand jury doesn't really make any difference, whether or not Officer Wilson is indicted, tried or convicted. Whatever the outcome of the ongoing investigation, one thing remains clear: the parents of Michael Brown will never see their son again. That is the saddest part about gun violence and Police shooting of unarmed black men in the United States of America.

(I want to make this clear: none of the eyes witnesses alluded to the fact that Michael Brown was shot and killed from behind. What they have been saying on record was that, when the first gun shot was fired, Michael was backing Officer Wilson. They didn't say he was shot and killed while backing the Officer or that he was shot and killed from behind. I am making this declaration in light of the series of reports by some of the reporters at the scene talking about some inconsistencies in the eyes witness accounts.  CNN Chris Cuomo take note: the first gun shot came while he was walking away - backing the Officer. That's it. Not that he was shot and killed from behind as you reported several times that the eyes witnesses said. Again, they did not say that. That was your creation, in order to create inconsistencies where there are none).

Finally, trying to impugn the integrity of Mr. Al Sharpton by making reference to the Tawana Brawley case as Mr. Klein did somewhere in his piece is totally repugnant to say the least. If I may add, how does discrediting Mr. Al add value or substance to your essay, when you are calling for the need to address race relations? You don't have to like Al; he speaks for millions of oppressed Americans out there who do not have or enjoy the kind of unrestricted access to the news media that you enjoy every day. The Brown family needs a voice. The Trayvon Martin's family needs a voice. The Amadou Diallo family needs a voice. And they know who their friends are in the face of Police brutality. You cannot deny that. That's our reality as black people in the United States of America.

See the "The Trial and Conviction of Trayvon Martin: A Common Sense Analysis", posted on July 20, 2013. 

IBB @ 73: ‘Why Boko Haram will not survive’ - Vanguard News

IBB @ 73: ‘Why Boko Haram will not survive’ - Vanguard News

Excerpts"

"Foreign assistance to  rescue the girls, what do you think of that move? Is it alright? What impact do you think that will make? Secondly, do you support the idea that government should go into negotiation with Boko Haram?"

"Well, you go into negotiation with people you know, people you identify, people you see, so (in the Chibok girls case), who do you negotiate with? That is the  problem. Who? Surely, I don’t believe government should call (Boko Haram leader)  Shekau to sit on the table and talk. So who do you talk to? Nobody! If there are identified persons who, for one reason or the other everybody knows   they are fighting, they should come out openly, say this is what they want.  To be fair to the Federal Government, who do they talk to? Tomorrow, if they come out to say ‘this is the leadership,   this is the structure,   this is our grievances,   this is what we want’,   they can sit down and talk, but so far, it hasn’t happened."

"What about the threats of the insurgents on the social media. Some months ago, the social media was awash  with threats from this group that they were going to attack  prominent leaders of the North and we took it with levity. But some weeks ago, a former Head of State, General Buhari, was attacked. Also, your name was mentioned as one of the leaders they will attack. Is it not a source of concern for you people who have led this country and are still working to keep this country together.?   There are also threats to capture states in the North-Central."

"I heard it too. I think the whole objective as I earlier told you was to put the fear of Boko Haram into the people like the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom. That is the only tactic they have to use, but I am saying it would not work; all we need is to support the military, the armed forces, the government in what they are doing. They don’t have the people’s support and this is why I challenge those who are shouting their voice hoarse to go back to the creeks or the forest. This insurgency would stop, it has to stop because Boko Haram cannot survive" – 

Confab: No hidden agenda in draft report - Clark, Falae, Nwachukwu, Dara - Vanguard News

Confab: The Emancipation of Middle-Beltans and the Disappearance of a Monolithic North. 
 

"Secretary General of Middle Belt Forum, John Dara, who noted that the reality was that Nigeria would be operating on a new improved constitution at the end of the Conference pledged the total loyalty of Middle Belt people to the document and report of the Conference. “I am the Secretary General of the Middle Belt Forum. I would like to put it on record that the wrong impression that the whole of Northern Nigeria is opposed to the resolutions taken and the reports that are being presented is incorrect. The Middle Belt Forum consists of 14 states out of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, and the delegations of those states are solidly in support of the outcome of this conference."

“Not only that, we are very impressed with the level of integrity and accuracy demonstrated by the secretariat in reflecting our views. We had recommended that the logical outcome of the constitutional changes we have recommended is that there would be a new Constitution or the 1999 constitution be amended. Whichever way, it is an equation of the cup being half full or half empty.” - John Dara, Secretary General of the Middle Belt Forum.

Blogger's Comment:

The Emancipation of Middle-Beltans and the Disappearance of a Monolithic North. We saw it coming, and we said so on this Blog several times in the past. Just few days ago, August 11, 2014, in one of our articles ,titled "The National Confab, Arewa Irredentism and Managing Resistance to Change", we had this to say:

"I want to repeat: that era is gone – the era of feudal dominance and manipulation of our body politic is gone. There is no longer a monolithic north or a genuine umbrella body representing Arewans or interested in emancipating the talakawas and the almajiris from mental and economic entanglement/slavery."

"The Mud Houses and the unsightly pictures of decades of decadence littering every gamut of northern countryside that the world has come to see and know of the north, thanks, unfortunately, to Boko Haram's attacks, prove how unrepresentative and insincere northern political leaders are."

"Where is the socio-economic empowerment? True leadership is about motivations in power. Though it is lacking nationwide, it is more pronounced in the geographical north of Nigeria. The power clique massively underdeveloped the greater part of geographical north, and I am afraid to add, the real class struggle/warfare is yet to come. You cannot cornered the means of production as well as the machinery of Government, and frustrate distribution of wealth and purposeful governance at the same time. Governing and political power are about service."

"Often they apply religion and bogus claims of threat of southern dominance to hijack and arrest the conscience and judgment of average northerners. And in the process, succeeded in under-educating and under-developing them over the years. Not anymore; the cat is now out of the bag. The Sharia Law initiative is merely a facade - contrived to extort trust and consolidate their hold on power. The Northern Elders and The Arewa Conservative Forum do not represent the people of the geographical north - the talakawas and the almajiris. They represent their political interests and business empire."

And on January 02, 2012, in an Article, titled "Rethink Disintegration", we had this to say: 

"Besides, the Federal Character and Quota System mechanisms that people from Kwara, Plateau, Kogi, and Benue have enjoyed over the years on the basis of being part of the so-called disadvantaged and protected northern region, pale into insignificance juxtaposed with the large scale killings and colonized status they endured over the years for been part of the privileged Hausa/Fulani zone. So, suffer no more illusions; there is no longer a monolithic northern Nigeria as of old. What is going on right now is a struggle for survival - any means necessary by the Northern Elders and the ACF to consolidate their Business Empire. There is nothing on record to support their love for the talakawas and the almajiris."

Ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok Girls: Presidency blasts Northern elders - Vanguard News

Ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok Girls: Presidency blasts Northern elders - Vanguard News

2015: Afenifere, North fight dirty - Vanguard News

2015: Afenifere, North fight dirty - Vanguard News

Contest and plunge Nigeria into violence, anarchy, Northern delegates warn Jonathan, others - Vanguard News

Contest and plunge Nigeria into violence, anarchy, Northern delegates warn Jonathan, others - Vanguard News

The National Confab, Arewa Irredentism, and Managing Resistance to Change.

When Buhari and Idiagbon toppled The Shagari's Government, there was no social media. When IBB and Abacha came, also, there was no social media. Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of the civil war era. Besides, the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces is no longer exclusively a regional affair. Today, Nigerians will not be readily disposed to the idea of a military intervention under the guise of corruption of the system that, history has proven, they are not capable of eradicating. Any undemocratic change in the political system short of a total revolution will suffer rejection. I do fervently hold that Northern political leaders, intent on maintaining the status quo, are not making the right judgment trying to impede the essence and purpose of the on-going National Confab. Yes, Nigeria is a geographical expression. Pa Awo said so. Sir Almadu Bello alluded to it. But northern political leaders lived it. In their actions and pronouncements, there is Northern Nigeria first before the "other Nigerians." Ask Dr. Junaid Mohammed. Ask Professor Ango Abdullahi. Ask Professor Jubrin Aminu, or Professor Yadudu. If you are still in doubt, ask the Arewa Conservative Forum, or the Northern Elders. And that is not the status quo we want to maintain. You cannot want me and hate me. I beg to move. 

There is always at least one of them in every Government since 1960. These individuals are more powerful and more influential than the federal government itself. That's the genesis of our structural problem as a nation, which in turn, defines the quality of our leadership. To eradicate the corruption in the system, you must first eliminate the entrenched structural distortion that breeds leaders without ideas. It takes quality leadership to fight corruption. No, they want to perpetuate the distortion of our federal system that perpetuates the bulk of our present leadership.

They had the final say over our constitutional drafting process as well as in creation of states and local governments. By the way, how did Kano State come to having 44 Local Government Councils? Is that the nature of status quo we should be proud of and willing to maintain?

Mr. Festus Eze Odimegwu succumbed to pressure mounted by the Governor of Kano State and quit his position as the Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC). His offence was that he doubted the veracity of the last census conducted by NPC. Indeed there is a nexus between population superiority, embellished or not, and the number of local government councils or states created. So, the Governor's concern is suspect. Is that the nature of status quo we want to perpetuate?

In addition, the same clique thought it was an aberration allowing Moshood Abiola to assume the Presidency. And they subverted the emerging democratic process. Till this very moment, no one outside the clique knows how the decision was taken to annul Abiola's mandate. When reality came, they capitulated. They happily imposed Obasanjo, the Clarence Thomas of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, on us. But they gambled. Baba was no longer the docile General, the Yoruba hating General who succeeded Murtala Mohammed. He is emancipated.

That misreading of Baba's current state of mind as well as ignorance of the emerging trends in Nigeria and global politics by IBB and his collaborators, signaled the end of feudalism and the disappearance of the dominance of Nigerian political system at the federal level by the Arewa adherents. By implication, President Jonathan is their creation. And he is going to be their last. Quote me on that.

I want to repeat: that era is gone – the era of feudal dominance and manipulation of our body politic is gone. There is no longer a monolithic north or a genuine umbrella body representing Arewans or interested in emancipating the talakawas and the almajiris from mental and economic entanglement/slavery prevalent in the northern region of Nigeria.

The Mud Houses and the unsightly pictures of decades of decadence littering every gamut of northern countryside that the world has come to see and know of the north, thanks, unfortunately, to Boko Haram's attacks, prove how unrepresentative and insincere northern political leaders are.

Where is the socio-economic empowerment? True leadership is about motivations in power. Though it is lacking nationwide, it is more pronounced in the geographical north of Nigeria. The power clique massively underdeveloped the greater part of geographical north, and I am afraid to add, the real class struggle/warfare is yet to come.

You cannot cornered the means of production as well as the machinery of Government; frustrated the distribution of wealth and purposeful governance at the same time, and expect to be voted into Aso Rock again. Governing and political power are about service.

Often they apply religion and bogus claims of threat of southern dominance to hijack and arrest the conscience and judgment of average northerners. And in the process, succeeded in under-educating and under-developing them over the years. Not anymore; the cat is now out of the bag. 

The Sharia Law initiative is merely a facade - contrived to extort trust and consolidate their hold on power. The Northern Elders and The Arewa Conservative Forum do not represent the people of the geographical north - the talakawas and the almajiris. They represent their political interests and business empire.

Truth is, with status quo remaining unaltered, the explosion of almajiris culture, coupled with Boko Haram's resistance of civilization, the likelihood of any member of this clique ever testing power again at the national level remains infinitesimal. A northern President, if ever it happens, will not be on the basis of "it is the turn of north to produce the next President." It must be on the ground of credibility or trustworthiness of the candidate in the eyes of every Nigerian voter. In other words, a northern candidate or consensus candidate at the behest of Northern Elders or Arewa Conservative Forum will not sell across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Not now. Not anymore.

We have, no doubt, come of age. The occupation of Aso Rock has ceased to be an exclusive hijack or resolution of IBB and Baba or the Northern Elders. It has come to be the decision of Nigerian voters.

Therefore, this Confab is an opportunity for northern political leaders to collaborate with their southern colleagues to deliberate and put in place some mechanisms for true federal structure - a federal system that will ensure that the component states exercise as much power as the central government for the good of all. If we have to revisit the offshore and onshore dichotomy; I'm for it. Whatever the nature of agreement we structured, we should always remember that in the event of any disaster in connection with oil/gas exploration in the high sea, it is the littoral states that suffer the most. Trying to unite to outsmart southern delegates as northern delegates are reported doing presently, with a view to defeating the essence and purpose of this Confab, will not serve any one any good. Try a Military coup, and this country will be up in flame for a real revolution. This is the time to put in place a TRUE FEDERAL SYSTEM, or you risk losing everything. A foundation has to be built on something. Happy deliberation.

Awoyokun: G.G. Darah, the North and resource control

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/opinion/columnist/173224-awoyokun-g-g-darah-the-north-and-resource-control - By Damola Awoyokun for The Guardian.

Blogger's Comment:

The piece below was originally written for the Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria by Mr. Damola Awoyokun. It is republished here courtesy of the Guardian. That I stand for one strong Nigeria made up of semi-autonomous states is not in doubt. I have consistently, and in no ambiguous term, maintained that position on this Blog. Nevertheless, holding such patriotic position shouldn't preclude me or anyone else from articulating how Nigeria descended to present state of hopelessness, to the extent that most commentators and some regional leaders, are now calling for disintegration.

This is not a blaming game. It is all about a reminder - how did we get here? It's about redirecting and preventing our "geographical expression" from its dangerous cascade into oblivion.

What Mr. Awoyokun did here is what has been lacking or missing within the Nigerian intellectual class south of the Niger River over the years. A Northern intellectual would, as always, contrive some hypotheses, richly embellished throughout with bogus claims, and call it the true story of that aspect of the Nigerian project. Because southern academics and intellectuals do not consider rebuttal of any importance, or in most cases, completely unaware of the existence of such memos, the government of the day would willing buy into such bogus claims hook, line and sinker.

Thanks to the emergence of social media, things are beginning to change for the better. Those who would not have had the opportunity to get published in the traditional news media are now able to air their opinions about the Nigerian project through different means. They are the ones daring all the ethnic chauvinist Junaid Mohammeds of the north on national issues. They are the ones challenging southern academics and established columnists to live up to their titles - be contemporary, relevant and be useful. They are the ones proving ready materials/solutions on how to transform the Nigeria project and move it forward. That's what we do here.

For instance, when some vocal northerners, who, arguably, are not true representatives of larger northerners, came up in the past one year with a very bizarre and superfluous conjecture to the effect that petroleum refineries in the Niger Delta were financed with proceeds from exploitation/exploration of natural resources in the Northern Region, Professor Itse Sagay came up with a timely rebuttal - disputing and putting a lie to every claim in those essays. He gave a historical and factual analysis of how crude oil was discovered, financed and harnessed in the Niger Delta by foreign oil multinationals under a production sharing agreement/arrangement with the Nigerian Federal Government. Prior to the emergence of social media, you would not have been able to read something of that nature from the Professor. They stay in their studies, minding their text books and lecture notes, or writing about corruption, while pocket of northern intellectuals, working with Military Governments, hijack issues of state and local government creation.

Mr. Awoyokun is doing exactly in this article what Professor Sagay did few months ago with respect to oil and groundnuts. It is very important that we hear the other side of the story. It is not about sentiments. It is not about ethnic hatred. It is about facts. It is on that premise that I bring before you, courtesy of Mr. Awoyoku and the Guardian Newspaper, some historical facts about Nigeria, and specifically, about how oil came to displaced groundnuts pyramids in the Northern Region of Nigeria. Happy reading.

"IT is the patriotic duty of every Nigerian to dance on the grave of General Sani Abacha. Contrary to the Levickian PR his supporter Prof. G.G. Darah did for him in his article Dancing on Abacha and Yar Aduas’ Graves (The Guardian, July 17-18, 2014), Abacha remains the most despicable leader Nigeria ever had.  He killed Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8; he is believed to have a hand in the killing of Pa Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola, Suliat Adedeji, Rear Admiral Olu Omotehinwa, Dr. Omatshola,  Musa Yar’Adua, Madam Tinubu while others like Alex Ibru and Pa Abraham Adesanya were his near-misses. Countless students whose name we don’t even know were massacred while standing up for the democratic ideals of June 12. We pay tribute to Wole Soyinka, Anthony Enahoro, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori, General Akinrinade, Hassan Kukah, Olisa Agbakogba, Ayo Obe, Chima Ubani, Dan Sulaiman, Kayode Fayemi, Emeka Anyaoku, Femi Falana, Sola Adeyeye  and some of our finest and fearless journalists and editors still around today: Odia Ofeimun, Nosa Igiebor, Chris Anyanwu, Babafemi Ojudu, Kunle Ajibade, Bayo Onanuga, Dapo Olorunyomi, Akin Adesokan, Ogaga Ifowodo, Niran Malaolu, Osifo-Whiskey, and others assassinated like James Bagauda Kaltho. These illustrious Nigerians formed the minds of my generation and made it impossible for us to believe lies. Today, Nigerians should hug themselves with tears of joy and say, yes, we survived that evil monster."

"In 1905, backed by the BCGA’s reconnaissance report, Winston Churchill, an MP for Lancashire reported in the House of Commons that Northern Nigeria had been discovered to offer a reliable and rich production of cotton.  Investment there must therefore be allowed to proceed. But the only problem was the absence of mechanised, business-friendly and export-compliant transportation network.  Lugard was a great military strategist and an indefatigable administrator but he was not a good engineering director.  So in 1906 when Lugard as the Governor of Northern Nigeria  submitted proposals for “Continuous Administration,” by which he would still be able to govern his protectorate even when he was out of the country for a long time, Churchill as the undersecretary for Colonies rejected it and Lugard resigned in September. As the Yoruba say, eni ti a fe sun ni ina to tun fi epo para, 2 ge 4 (He whom we plan to roast alive is even beautifying his own skin with petroleum jelly. Ride on)." 

"In the Commons when Churchill was asked what kind of financial stress a huge railway network to connect a region bigger than the size of France and Italy put together was going  to inflict on Britain’s budget, he replied: “The cost of the railway extension at present authorised will be met by Southern Nigeria, so that the British taxpayer will not be affected” (Hansard, 19th December 1906). Sir Percy Girouard came in and delivered the 366 mile Baro-Kano railway line at £3,800 per mile - half the price of Lugard’s projection. In 1912 with his proposals for Continuous Administration accepted, Lugard was brought back from Honk Kong to deliver  access to the sea with frictionless fluency by amalgamating the two independent countries.  What we call colonisation was to Britain business opportunity." 

"The railways were fine, the weather cooperated, the Sultan of Sokoto and Shehu of Borno had pledged their loyalty, cotton was blooming in Gusau and Funtua the same way they blossomed in Mississippi and Alabama; Tin had been discovered in Jos, groundnuts, tobacco, ginger, hide and skin  had been added to the mix. What followed was 50 years of aggressive and unbridled “business opportunities.” The figures leapt for joy. From 200 tonnes before the railways, groundnut export shot up to 41,000 tonnes in 1915.  In 1949, a year after the North was amalgamated legislatively with the South, the 10 tonnes of cotton and 378,000 tonnes of groundnuts were exported compared to 103 tonnes of cocoa from the South. By 1961, the North was responsible for 37.8% of world’s supply of groundnuts."   

"By 1963, groundnut exports soared to 650,000 tonnes fetching the Northern marketing board a cool £46 million. The booming northern economy also generated an ultra-wealthy rich class. In the mid-twenties, Alhassan Dantata swiftly replaced Captain Labulo Davies, Alli-Balogun, J.H. Doherty, William Akinola Dawodu, Braimah Igbo, J.K. Coker, Karimu Kotun who were the earlier richest men from the South.  When UAC, a subsidiary of Unilever which controlled 80% of Nigeria’s exports started out in the North, they needed someone who would go around to the farmers and buy their products and encourage them to grow more and more cash crops needed in Europe. They found Dantata, a small time but willing trader and made him their agent.  All those iconic pyramids of groundnuts by railway lines which were the towering symbols of North’s wealth were the handiwork of Dantata."

"All that changed in 1966. From an economic giant, the North became a welfare case. When farmers harvest their groundnuts or cotton or hides and skin, they take them to the middlemen or directly to nearest UAC or John Holt warehouses for cash. The top staff of these companies were British while the record keepers, warehouse supervisors were mostly Igbo. Also due to literacy differences, clerks of the civil service, post and telegraph operators, electricity corporation’s maintenance technicians, the water treatment workers, foremen of construction gangs were mostly Igbo. Those who drive the trains, service train engines, give train signals and the train stations supervisors were mostly Igbo. Laird, Britain’s deputy high commissioner in Kaduna wrote of Northerners who could have held these jobs: “They seem to have little desire to improve their way of live…Any money left after paying their taxes is spent on purchasing a new wife or new bicycle…” 

"Then it started on  May 28, 1966. Based on a flawed estimate of ordinary Igbo’ culpability in the coup of January 15 and Ironsi’s handling of the affair, then began a systematic effort to ensure every Igbo in the North that was not dead must be made afraid to stay. It mattered less that most of these Igbo were born and bred in the North and do not have residences in the East.  Up to two million fled. Even those that were working on Kainji dam project were quickly airlifted to Ogbomosho when report came to Impregrelio, the Italian civil engineering giant that the murderous yaniska (sons of wind) were mobilising with fanatical ferocity in Minna ready to storm the construction site and dispossess it of every Igbo worker. According to archive records, 50 were killed and 900 safely evacuated. The Briton, who was the engineering supervisor of the Zaria train depot said he witnessed one of his own train mechanics murder five of his co-workers because they were Igbo."

"When the dust settled, it was discovered farmers who managed to haul their harvests to the warehouses could not sell them because the trains were not working. Dymond, the Deputy British High Commissioner travelled to the North to survey the extent of the damage. When Lugard sewed up the country and became the governor-general, instead of governing from Lagos, he governed from the North because he had the dream that with effective management, the North can be a new India for the Empire. Cumming-Bruce saw that dream in tatters as he surveyed the place from October 2 – 13, 1966. Then the civil war came and after it, instead of going back to the status quo, Petroleum Decree No. 51 brought a new source of easy money more stupendous than reliance on agriculture.  American Civil war led to the rise of the North as an economic giant, the Nigerian Civil war ended it." 

"Wrote G.G. Darah: “It was the Gowon-Awolowo diarchy that abolished the derivation principle and funnelled all the revenue to the ravenous central government under the guise of depriving the breakaway Biafra Republic of 1967-1970 of funds to prosecute the civil war.”  This is incorrect. The Petroleum Decree was signed on November 26, 1969, 29 months into the war and roughly a month before it was over. The war was funded with war bonds, sales of gold jewellery donated by Biafran women, donations from Biafrans abroad, reserve currencies from two regional branches of Central Bank, international aid diverted into arms purchase, sale of palm oil, and most importantly, cash loans and arms from the Charles De Gaulle’s Government.  In April 1969, another $12 million was deposited in a Moroccan bank awaiting Biafran emissaries to arrive to pick it up. Oil money was not used to fund the war even though it was the centre of it for both sides. For instance, Adekunle’s battalion which later Became Third Marine Commando was not tasked to go and win the war, that was for Danjuma’s First Division or Murtala Mohammed’s Second. Adekunle was tasked to deprive the Biafrans of access to the sea, liberate the oil producing regions and secure oil facilities so that the oil companies will know who should have the next royalties." 

"The Petroleum Decree was promulgated in November 1969 because 1970 was a year of pay since royalties were paid every three years then.  (Even Biafran war bonds had 1970 and 1973 maturity dates). The last pay was for the Federal Government and the Eastern Region as usual. But since the last pay, the Eastern Region had been broken up into Eastern Central State with no oil and Rivers and Cross River states with all the oil. The Decree then routed all the revenues from territorial areas and continental shelves to the Federal purse. What that eventually created was the dictatorship of the centre. Whether the country was under democratic regime or military junta, federalism or regionalism, Nigerians are chained to the dictates of centre. And this dictatorship is enhanced by the fragmentation of the country into more states. Nigeria started out as two independent countries. Economic calculus brought the two together not political expediency or ethnic pacifications.  But the partitioning of the country into more states was being driven by political and ethnic pacifications not economic imperatives. And this always enhances dictatorship of the centre since many of these states are not self-sustaining and huge amount of money would be lost to bureaucratic overheads. The first test for existence of any state should be, if the Federal Government does not give or take any revenue from me, would I survive? If not, the state should not be created because the meagre resources of Peter would have to be robbed to pay Paul."

"Finally, to help the North get back on its feet, the confab delegates must break the dictatorship of the centre by insisting on resource control. That is what Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8 stood for. The North used to be the Niger Delta of Nigeria. The two million that fled during the 1966 ethnic cleansing were there because of the economic opportunities that the North had to offer. Bola Ige, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Emeka Ojukwu were born by parents who went to seek refuge in the North’s economic prosperity. Therefore, the North must not underestimate its own potential by rejecting resource control. A new quest for wealth through foreign investments and provision of technical training for all would force the North to compromise on retrogressive practices and ancient beliefs that stand in the way of modern economic prosperity."

"On the other hand, the responsible and honourable leaders of the South-South should not settle for less than they are. A no deal is better than a bad deal. Because in the future, if a Dokubo, Boyloaf, Togo, Ekpemupolo or any of their ilk blows up the Niger Delta or kidnap foreign workers, we shall not call them resource control activists or Niger Delta Justice advocates, we shall call them terrorists. For this is the time to comprehensively articulate their grievances and stand their ground. Anything short of this becomes not the North’s fault, not the Federal Government’s, not the oil companies’ but their own fault."

• Awoyokun is a writer and historian. 

Confab: The complete story of the conspiracies by Odumakin - Vanguard News

Confab:

Blogger's Comment: Unraveling Northern Demands.

When Buhari and Idiagbon sacked Shagari's Government, there was no social media. When IBB and Abacha came, also, there was no social media. Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of the civil war era. I do believe that Northern political leaders are making a huge mistake trying to jeopardize the purpose of the on-going National Confab. Yes, Nigeria is a geographical expression. Pa Awo said so. Sir Almadu Bello said so. But northern political leaders lived it. There is Northern Nigeria first before Nigeria, if any. Ask Dr. Junaid Mohammed. Ask Professor Ango Abdullahi. Ask Professor Jubrin Aminu. Ask Professor Yadudu.

There is always one of them in every Government since 1960. That's the genesis of our structural problem. Sir Almadu Bello's "brought-ups" didn't allow Abiola to assume the Presidency. By the way, how did Kano State come to having 44 Local Government Councils? Till this very moment, no one outside the clique knows how the decision was taken to annul Abiola's mandate. When reality came, they capitulated. They happily imposed Obasanjo, the Clarence Thomas of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, on us. But they gambled. Baba was no longer the docile General, the Yoruba hating General who succeeded Murtala Mohammed. He is emancipated. That misreading of Baba's state of mind as well as ignorance of the emerging trends in Nigeria and global politics by IBB and his fellow Almadu Bello's "brought-ups", signaled the end of feudalism and the domination of Nigerian politics by the Arewa adherents.

I want to repeat: that era is gone – the era of feudal dominance and manipulation of our body politic is gone. There is no longer a monolithic North or an Umbrella Body or a unified school of thought representing a Northern Region. The mud houses and the unsightly pictures of decades of decadence in northern countryside that the rest of Nigerians have come to see and know of the north, thanks, unfortunately, to Boko Haram's attacks, prove how unrepresentative and insincere northern political leaders are.

They use religion and bogus claims of southern dominance to arrest the conscience and judgment of average northerners and succeeded in uneducating and under-developing them. Not anymore; the cat is now out of the bag. The Sharia initiative is merely a facade. Truth is, with status quo remaining unaltered, explosion of almajiris culture, coupled with Boko Haram's resistance of civilization, I doubt the chances of one of them ever testing power again at the national level in a long time to come. A new northern President, if ever, or whenever it happens, will not be on the basis of the turn of northern region to produce the President. But on the credibility and trustworthiness of the candidate by every Nigerian voter. In other words, a northern candidate or consensus candidate at the behest of Northern Elders or Arewa Conservative Forum will never sell across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Quote me on that.

Therefore, this Confab is an opportunity for northern political leaders to collaborate with their southern colleagues to deliberate and put in place some mechanisms for true federal structure -  federal system that would ensure that the component states exercise as much power as the central government for the good of all. Trying to unite to outsmart southern delegates as northern delegates are reported doing presently, with a view to defeating the essence and purpose of this Confab, will not serve any one any good. This is the time put in place a TRUE FEDERAL SYSTEM, or you risk losing everything. Happy reading.

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere and a delegate to the National Conference. In this interview he speaks among others on the gains of the confab and why it may be difficult to scuttle the report as being allegedly planned by some people. 

Excerpts: By Clifford Ndujihe

FIVE months into the confab, what has been your experience?

I think it is a mixed bag. For those of us who have over the years agitated that we need to discuss the future of this country, it was a dream come true when President Goodluck Jonathan on March 17, 2014 inaugurated the conference and he gave us the charge to discuss every issue as regards the future of Nigeria and to reach a consensus on how Nigeria should be rebuilt. And there he turned to the National Assembly and said, ‘I hope you are talking about a referendum? Even though you are amending the constitution, if there is a need for a new constitution, do not shy away from it.’

We spent the first few days of the conference over rules and procedures. And the conference was going to break up over voting pattern, first it was 75 per cent, then later we had to settle for 70 per cent. After that we broke into committees. We broke into 20 committees in all. There are many of us who thought the committees were unwieldy and to be honest with you many of the issues came out under policy issues. Many of these policy issues are what a presidential candidate can commission a team to prepare for him in a manifesto-light, road, etc. Some of us believe the conference should discuss hardware, the policy issues are software.

When we came back from the committees we spent quality time looking at the policy issues and left the critical issues towards the end. With benefit of hindsight, I think it was a good decision because if we had put devolution first, maybe it would have been the end of the conference.

This conference is a major improvement on past conferences. It discussed the issues of Nigeria in depth. The quality of delegates was quite impressive. Most of the delegates would not have got to the conference if we had gone through the kind of elections we hold in Nigeria. There was quality debate. We dealt with reports of 19 committees, passed about 500 resolutions and three-quarters of devolution until we got to the thorny issue of derivation, which had always been the Achilles heels of every conference since 1988. Eventually, we passed the buck to the president because centrifugal forces, who are suddenly aroused by the governors, came and tried to cause confusion after being asked: What are you doing? Why did you allow local government to be de-listed? Why did you allow state police, state constitution, etc?

*Yinka Odumakin

How did it happen?

When we got to the conference some of us were invited to a meeting called Consensus Building Group which was facilitated by Prof Agboola Gambari and Dr Raymond Dokpesi. We were delegates across the zones. We tried to build consensus around the various committees. We took the report of a committee, discussed and reached a consensus. Eventually, this developed into a meeting of minds, first between the South and the Middle belt. So a document was produced detailing the points and the position of the various zones on each point. At a point, it was agreed that the entire six zones should have that kind of consensus and a report was drafted.

Delegates from the South put a motion before the conference, which was moved by Senator Aniete Okon and I seconded it. It was signed by major leaders from the South – E.K Clark, General Akinrinade, Olu Falae, etc. that was the time they were trying to shut down debate and said now there should be no more debate, that we should adopt every report.

We said no and the leadership agreed that we should continue the debate on reports. That was the day Gambari sent a message to Dokpesi that they would no longer attend the meeting. The next meeting that was called, it was only the South and Middle Belt that attended.

The next thing we saw was that they started sponsoring all kinds of publications in northern papers-that there is a hidden agenda, there is an already prepared constitution, Dokpesi has been circulating the constitution, that Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, the deputy chairman had called some northern leaders to persuade them, that money was being shared, etc.

That was how the issue came to the floor of the conference and the conference was going to have a lock down again. Prof Akinyemi explained what he had been doing-to call all sides involved in knotty issues and resolve them before it comes to the plenary.

Dokpesi gave the background to the whole meeting and pointed out that Prof Gambari and his team were trying to scuttle the conference, that the document has nothing to do with constitution but consensus built around issues discussed.

By the time we crossed that hurdle, they now came back to say the position we took in adopting some critical issues was not right. We should not have used voice vote, we should have voted using 70:30 and we should reopen issues we had taken decisions on. The rule of the conference is very clear: any matter on which decision has been taken cannot be reopened.

Eventually, we got to derivation. All along, there had been all kinds of discussions trying to reach consensus. The South-South came with 25 per cent; the consensus group recommended 21 per cent and by the time we got to the plenary, what was agreed was 18 per cent. We now said the reason there is so much hues and cries over derivation is because not everybody is bringing something to the table. In the First Republic when everybody was bringing something to the table, derivation was 50 per cent. Nobody complained. 

We have the geological map of Nigeria, which shows there is large deposit of mineral resources in every part of Nigeria, that if we give five per cent increase to derivation making 18 per cent, we should devote another five per cent to development of mineral resources so that we can share prosperity instead of sharing money from one part of the country. Friends from the far North said no.

Eventually after a series of meetings and discussions, they said they agreed to that but there should be another five per cent for insurgency, which was called intervention fund.

First of all, we cannot make terrorism economic feature of our life. If you say you are giving this money to terrorism, you are telling other parts of the country to go and start terrorism so that they can access money from the centre.

And the money should be called National intervention fund, to take care of problems, disaster in all parts of the country. Eventually, we agreed, let’s have this fund starting with the North-East and other parts of the country.

When we got to the floor, General Nwachukwu was called to present the report of the committee. He called Prof Gambari, who gave the report but when it got to the National Intervention Fund, he said it was meant for the North-East, North-West and North-Central. That was how the meeting broke up.

They were asked to go and come back nothing was achieved until the last minute when it became clear that some of our friends were looking forward to use this to make the conference inconclusive. We said if that is the case let’s throw the matter back to the president to set up a technical committee. But the truth of the matter is the president does not need a technical committee to fix derivation, he can do it by fiat. The 1999 constitution says derivation shall not be less than 13 per cent, it did not say not more than 13 per cent.

Definitely, fair is fair. You cannot deny the South-South derivation because it is in their area we are exploring now, tomorrow we may explore in other parts of the country and they will ask for these things. But the challenge we have as a country is we have started accepting indolence as a way of life; wealth without work.

Between 2009 and 2012, four years, when you look at the revenue that accrued to this country and how it was shared, you will see that in those four years the South-South gave the federation account an average of 68 per cent; the South-West contributed 23 per cent and South-East, eight per cent. The average for the North is zero per cent in those four years. When you go to local government allocation, the North took 54 per cent. 

The South that produced 100 per cent of the revenue got 46 per cent. We now said, let’s democratise prosperity, let everybody go and look for gold, calcium, limestone, etc in his area but they said no. they want to make terrorism an item for derivation but by and large the conference management prevented people from scuttling the conference. We will now go back on August 11 to dot the ‘Is’ and cross the ‘Ts’. But there was agreement that derivation should be increased from 13 per cent to 18 per cent. 

What happened to that agreement?

Some consensus was built but we had not voted on it at the plenary before they brought the issue of five per cent for terrorism. On reports that some northerners are plotting to scuttle the report of the conference I want to say to those our friends that you cannot do an abortion after the baby has been born. The template for new Nigeria has been laid at this conference; to now say you will abort it is to commit murder with consequences. So any attempt to scuttle this conference now is to murder the future of Nigeria and I do not know whether we will fold our hands and allow you to murder the future of Nigeria.

If there is any book that should be read in Arewa House at this moment, I will recommend Barbara Tuchman’s “The March of Folly” where the author brilliantly showed how nations work against their enlightened self-interest. He gave many examples, one of them was Britain. As British colony, all America was asking for was four seats in the British Parliament. In those days, it took three months to travel from America to Britain. But Britain refused.

That refusal led to one thing and one thing led to another until America fought the war of independence. So, the far North should know that there is a new dawn in Nigeria. The spirit of the people has been unleashed and you cannot hold it back, you cannot bind the people under the old order. Any attempt to do that will be courting unpleasant feelings.

The people of Nigeria have decided at this conference how they want to live as a people. If you now think because you lost on some items you want to scuttle the exercise, it is either you don’t want to be part of the new Nigeria or you want to opt out of it. To think you alone will reverse the will of Nigerians is a joke taken too far.