The call for a Sovereign National Conference has continued to be a recurrent feature of the country since the period of the military regimes of late Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Abdulsala Abubakar. The commencement of a democratic regime in May 1999 did not reduce agitation for conference.
Introduction
The proponents of the conference, believe that it is only through the convening of a Sovereign National Conference that the various imbalances and irregularities associated with the past government can be resolved.
In fact in simple terms, the Sovereign National Conference panacea to national instability. The objective of this paper is to examine the views of proponents of the conference, and the reasons or justification for the conference. It is the suitability or otherwise of the conference, the possible outcomes and its importance or relevance to national stability.
Theoretical Framework
In the words of an ex-head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, cited in Musililu (2002) nearly everything in Nigeria including its survival as a united, strong and self-reliant nation is overshadowed by one form of crisis or the other.
To him “We do need to explore the means with which we could salvage and rebuild our capacity to live together in peace and harmony.
There is a need to talk about this issue and we must do so openly and frankly. We must demand answers to painful questions.
Focus 1
In his view, Odumegwu Ojukwu cited in Musililu(2002) observed that persons who deny Nigerians the opportunity to discuss their issues of nationhood in a sovereign forum have magnified the problems of the nation.
To him, the woe will continue unless we sit down together to design Nigeria to accommodate us.
According to Bolaji Akinyemi (2002), Nigeria is a frightened State inhabited by frightened people. We are suspicious of each other, we are suspicious of the government and the government is suspicious of its people.
Focus 2
Datti Ahmed (2004) opines that the government has failed in its duty of protecting the lives of citizens and now “We are ready to go to war in the absence of a Sovereign National Conference. To him, the country is tired of useless and incompetent leadership.
Chimaroke Nnamani (2003) believes that the country is already in the process of a conference.
He opined that the various democratic structures that is, the National Assembly, the President and State governors Houses of Assembly etc are there to protect the citizens and their interests.
Focus 3
He expresses his belief in the need for Nigerians to counter, to argue, to return, to square one.
In the words of Adeyinka Adebayo (2004), there is mutual suspicion among the people of this country. Yoruba don’t trust Hausa, Hausa don’t trust Ibo and vice-visa.
The solution to the problems is to have a National Conference in which all ethnic groups would be represented.
While reacting to the claim that the conference would break the country, the elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro (2004) observed “What might break up the country is what we are in now.
Things are getting worse. So, unless we talk, if we don’t talk, it is going to be a matter of consensus and those who want to leave Nigeria don’t need your permission to leave.
He also observed that the National Assembly as it is presently constituted is not the appropriate organ for the task of the conference.
On the status or nature of the conference, Bankole (2004) said that although he believes in the need for a national conference, the conference should not be sovereign.
Focus 4
In the words to ask for a sovereign National Conference is to ask of chew: We do not solve the problem by creating another problem.
”He, however, observed that the National Assembly members were not representative enough to make decisions on behalf of all ethnic groups.
“We should maintain with experiences and different backgrounds should come and tell us how they feel about the Nigerian project.”
Justifications/Reasons for the Conference
First among these factors is the issue of equitable sharing of the nation’s wealth. To the proponents of SNC and several other Nigerians, the present revenue allocation formula which is titled more in favour of the central (Federal) government to the disadvantage of other tiers of government leaves much to be desired and calls for a review.
The revenue allocation formula used was bequeathed to the present regime by the departed military rulers.
Focus 1
The belief is that being a dictatorial government, the military regimes were able to centralize the states and local governments whose leadership were more often than not selected or Dinted by the military high command.
However, since the commencement of the democratic, there has been a persistent call for a review of the sharing formula.
This particular cabling is championed by the Niger Delta people who believe that they deserve a better share of derived from their land.
Focus 2
The problems of generally acceptable census or the basis of which political seats and appointments are allocated also constitute another reason for the conference.
The current census in use was the 1991 population census organized by the Babangida regime. To certain sections of the country, the result of the census exercise did not reflect the true picture of things.
The present government has been using the census figure with little adjustment as the basis for allocating political offices (seats in the parliament, ambassadorial and ministerial, denominates etc) monthly revenue allocation etc.
Focus 3
Related to the two points above is the issue of oil and the demand of the Niger-Deltas. To the people of Niger Delta, extraction.
The present constitution of Nigeria is unfair to them as immediately before independence and First Republic) derivation was the policy of sharing region, likewise, the other two regions use their resources.
Now that it is the turn of the Niger-Deltas are demanding for the conference to get a better share of the resources being derived from their area and if that cannot be obtained, they are prepared to secede from the present arrangement of the federation.
Focus 4
The issue of land which has continued to be a source of conflict, especially in the middle-belt part of the country among the diverse ethnic groups there has remained unresolved by the government.
This has claimed a big casualty with the suspension of the democratically elected governor of Plateau state and the declaration of a state of emergency there by the President.
We have to remember that before the Plateau crisis there had been similar ethnic cleansing in Benue and Yoruba state.
Focus 5
Likewise the incessant conflict between and among the Ijaws, Itsekiris, Urhobos etc. in the Delta region among other conflict spots in the country.
Religious intolerance and ethnic bases are often fuelled by unguarded utterances and policies of the government which had led to senseless killings and loss of innocent lives. The properties of in-estimable value also constitute another reason for the need for a conference to address the state of affairs in the country.
Focus 6
In addition, the ambiguity in the present constitution (1999) is another factor to be considered. The constitution is ambiguous on the establishment and control of local government the sharing of resources, the issue of state religion etc.
To the proponents of the SNC, we need to readdress these vital issues to have stability in our country, since the constitution is going to serve as a guide to both the government and the governed.
Focus 7
Furthermore, the issue of state (and possibly L.G.) creation exercise is believed to have tilted in favour of one part of the country against other sections of the federation.
As a result of this, feeling of acceptability, the proponents believe that we need to sit down and draw unacceptable criteria for state (and L.G.) creation in the country to correct the abnormalities.
It is bequeathed by the departed military regimes who created the present state (and L.G) through the military might without any tangible criteria or adequate consultation. Rather the exercise was carried out to satisfy certain interest groups or score cheap political points.
Suitability of the Conference
As sound as the arguments and the reasons for the Sovereign National Conference, there has been an unresolved issue of its suitability. It is bearing in mind that a democratically elected government is already in place from the local level through the states to the federal government in the country now.
The point here is that are we going to elect or select another set of people for assignment? Another question stemming from the last point is; who convenes or organizes such a forum?
If it does will it not be that it is signing its death warrant? Alternatively, can the government look unconcerned if the civil society organizes the conference on its own?
And will the outcome be binding on the present government? Then who will provide the framework and the logistics for the conference?
He Way Out
Having analyzed the pros and cons of the conference, it is pertinent at this junction, that they suggest possible solutions to the problem at hand.
In the first place, there is an undisputed fact that there is a need for a sort of discussion (either sovereign or not) to review the Nigeria project and allow opponent parts to make inputs on how to address the present imbalance in the system order to live together in peace and harmony.
On the issue of convener of the conference, I believe the government is in a better position to organize it and it (the government) has to see it as a national sacrifice in the interest of the present and future generations of Nigerians.
To leave the matter to the private initiative may not augur well as such may lack the necessary acceptability both internally and on the international scene.
Conclusion
It is possible to dissolve the National Assembly as it is presently constituted and elect credible representatives from across the various states of the country to carry out the task.
On a final note, the convening of the conference should not be seen as a march to the dismemberment of the country and in fact, the conference itself when it eventually holds should direct its energy towards the rebuilding and cementing of existing structures rather than the breakup of the country. Read more related posts on our news page of the site.
Editors
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