Issues bordering on corrupt practices, unemployment, restructuring of the country into federating units, economic development and national security topped deliberation on Tuesday at the on-going National Conference in Abuja.
Each
delegate who stood to comment on the President’s speech at the
inauguration of the Conference also expressed concern over what would
happen to the report of the Conference in view of the non-implementation
of reports of previous Conference report.
Former Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet
Group, Air Commodore Idongest Nkanga (rtd), in his contribution said
the Conference has the capacity to either take the country to where it
should be in the comity of nations or push it backward.
He said the solution to existing problems of ethno-religious and tribal sentiments lies in Nigeria moving from its current practice of fake federalism and restructure the country into real federating units that would relief the centre of the burden that has turned states into parasites.
Nkanga
challenged the delegates to ensure that suggestions and decisions
arrived at would not amount to presenting theoretical solutions to
challenges that demand practical solutions.
He
said that to build Nigeria where equity and justice would reign; the
Conference must advance solutions that would eliminate the concept of
first and second class citizens or the orchestrated settlers and
citizens’ issue.
Former
Senate President, Ken Nnamani, said in restructuring Nigeria,
geo-political zones and not the states should constitute the federating
units while the power for creation of local government areas should be
left with the states.
It
was his opinion that the Conference must focus on the future of Nigeria
by ensuring that the burden of power currently placed on the federal
government was reduced and given to the federating units, the states and
the local government areas.
His
position for restructuring with the zones serving as federating units
was supported by retired Major-General Ike Nwachukwu who said the
purpose of the conference was to negotiate for a new Nigeria.
Nwachukwu
said that for the Conference to be a success, everyone must as a matter
of patriotism, set aside his prejudices and make sure a new Nigeria
emerges at the end of the day.
It
was his view that restructuring of the country will result in national
security; employment for the youth as people would stop focusing on the
centre and looking inward; women rights and economic development.
Both
Jim Nwobodo and Professor A. B. C. Nwosu who spoke later supported the
position of the previous speakers for fiscal federalism and devolution
of power.
Chief
Ajibola Ogunshola from the southwest cautioned against the excessive
population growth which he said is not counter-balanced with adequate
productivity as a major cause of massive unemployment and other social
problems.
He
spoke in support of restoration of local, state and zonal policing
which was abolished during the military era. It was his view that the
possible fear of abuse can be reduced by appropriate legislation.
On
devolution of power, he said the federation should no longer fund local
councils directly and that zones, as the federating units, can have as
many states and local government areas as they need.
Former
Information Minister, Frank Nweke 11, in a calm delivery, advocated a
national economic development philosophy as applied in other parts of
the world adding that other countries of the world have practically left
Nigeria behind.
“The
world is not going to wait for us. The world is not waiting for us,”
said Nweke adding that nations are built by disciplined and committed
visionaries and that Nigerians should never indulge in the belief that
nations develop by accident.
He
described the conference as a great opportunity for delegates to
confront national problems on behalf of all Nigerians and not an
occasion to bicker over issues that would take the country backward.
Moses
Mgbale from Adamawa State described the Conference as a chance for the
delegates to stand in the gap for every other Nigerian; an opportunity
for elders to correct their ways and for the youths to learn from the
elders.
He
said for a stronger Nigeria to emerge from the Conference, every
delegate must be determined to be a builder, not a destroyer and that
this can be done through objective contributions and suggestions at the
committee levels.
Hajiya
Fati Mongonu, who said her father was kidnapped by the Boko Haram
insurgents, alleged that unlike what used to obtain before, the military
today has been infiltrated by the same malaise afflicting the larger
society such as tribalism and sectionalism, an allegation that was
immediately dismissed by Ike Nwachukwu as absolutely untrue.
Alexander
Mshelbwala said President Goodluck Jonathan took a big risk to convoke
the conference without minding what the outcome would be. He described
the action as a show of courage.
Dr
Junaid Mohammed said although the President did not raise issues that
agitate his mind, like security and corruption, he hoped that the
outcome of the conference will not go the way of other conferences.
Lamido Adamawa,
Muhammedu Barkindo Mustapha said delegates must take a cue from the
President’s speech instead of theories propounded by the west which were
mainly meant to enrich them; and that the roles of traditional rulers
need not be enshrined in the Constitution.
Mustapha
Abdullahi in his contribution said the main problem with Nigeria and
Nigerians is that “we emphasise our differences and de-emphasise those
things that bind us together.”
Leadership
as a panacea for a stable and progressive Nigeria was the focus of a
short comment by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali
Umar Na’Abba.
He
said whatever the outcome of the Conference, except there is a
political will guided by a sense of patriotism on the part of the
leaders, nothing positive would be achieved.
In
the same vein, Asabe Baba Nahaya said a situation where Nigerians keep
cursing their leaders on the excuse that they do not have confidence in
them was bad as that curse will continue to take the nation backward.
Leader
of Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu put the issue squarely when he said: “we
are the cause of our problems,” and that both tribal and religious
inclinations constituted the main reasons Nigeria has not moved forward.
He
cited examples of Nigerian professionals in different disciplines who
have won international recognition but cannot come back to operate in
Nigeria because of the tensed environment characterized by hatred and
favouritism based on ethnic lines.
Former
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, told
the Conference that Nigeria and Nigerians have exhibited signs of a
failed state for a long time; and that it was time to arise and build.
Nwuche
challenged delegates to ask the basic questions: where did we go wrong,
at what point did we take the wrong turn. He traced the cause of the
problem to a faulty structure which he said was not too late to correct.
He
said Nigeria needs a structure that would enable its best to step
forward and provide the required leadership; “history beckons, we have
one more chance to right our wrongs.”
Former
Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili said solving Nigeria’s
problems is like treating a patient in a hospital and that “you cannot
treat an ailment you have not correctly diagnosed because for the
treatment to be effective, the ailment must be properly diagnosed.
He
said the Conference would only emerge with sound and acceptable report
if the delegates place justice on the table, talk and listen to each
other and sincerely address the fears of each group.
Bayo
Ojo, former Justice Minister spoke in support of the devolution of
power that would ensure a weak centre and strong geo-political zones. He
advocated free and compulsory primary and secondary education.
For
rights activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin, the Conference must produce a
constitution because, “it is going to be a colossal waste of time and
resources if we don’t have a constitution emerging from this
Conference.”
Nduka
Obaigbena, publisher of THISDAY newspaper lifted the morale of the
Conference with a powerful speech that centred on the achievements of
Nigeria and Nigerians both at home and abroad.
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