The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Confab

  • What the confab will not achieve

    SIR: With more than three weeks out of the three months slated for the National Conference, any hope that the conference shall point the way forward for a new Nigeria is fast disappearing . If the delegates could allocate two weeks to discuss the speech of the president of the nation, it staggers the imagination of how many weeks would be devoted to the burning problems plaguing all of us.

    Is it the picture of sleeping delegates or that of security personnel fighting among themselves with the journalists being made the scapegoat?  If the delegates succeed in preventing journalists from covering some of the sensitive discussions, it boils down to one thing and a very sad one at that: the very people who are supposed to benefit from the deliberations of these few select Nigerians are deprived of the benefit of the type of country they want.

    The reports of previous conferences are gathering dust in federal government official cabinet. The better and wise choice was for the Jonathan administration to dust up such files and find out if the recommendations of such conferences could be beneficial to our present condition. But this government infamous for wastage and corruption would have none of that and would prefer to bring out its own conference. And that is the circus Nigerians are being fed with.

    The exercise is borne out of the vaulting ambition of a man who is enamoured with power and its retention, and that what matters is how to gain more political mileage from the National Conference.

    This conference will not solve corruption in the country as some of the people attending the conference were part of the people that brought us to this ugly past. Corruption will continue to be the national symbol and the likes of Robert Mugabe shall make us butt of dirty international jokes. And if the conference cannot solve the problem of corruption, it means that this nation despite the abundant crude oil and gas wealth will continue to wear the sackcloth of poverty, with progress and development perched in the realm of imagination.

    The conference will never solve the problem of lack of unity buffeting the nation. The reason is that our political elites believe in a game of delusion and dissembling.  This nation is not united and the concept of a ‘Nigerian‘ is just fictional. That is why people are not sincere about the implementation of fiscal federalism despite the fact that ours is called the Federal Republic. That is why one traditional ruler could boast of moving to Cameroun and leaving the country. That is the more reason the struggle to control the presidency is very fierce. This skewed federal system needs thorough overhaul but the indications from the National Conference are that most delegates are not patriotic enough to speak the truth about fiscal federalism and resource control.

    The National Conference will not be able to solve the issues of doctored and flawed elections because as it stands today, the delegates see Jonathan as doing them great favour by inviting them to Abuja.  And when you add the boast of the president in Enugu recently that PDP will capture the whole of South-east, it will be delusional to contemplate for a split second that next year polls shall be free and fair.

    In the governance of a nation, any nation for that matter, the key ingredients are sincerity and transparency. These are unfortunately in short supply in the Jonathan‘s administration. The circuses of political leaders around the man weave tortoise-like stories to him and goad him to believe that his transformational agenda is having the desired effects. It is the same set of people that schooled him into believing that by convoking a national conference, he will enter the history books as one of nature’s gifts to Nigeria. It is a lie that the looming failure of the National Conference shall expose.

    • Akpoyibo Unutemeta,

    Asaba.

  • Confab delegates call for state creation

    Confab delegates call for state creation

    Some delegates to the national conference have called for the creation of more states to address issues of marginalisation and minority in the country.

    They made the call in Abuja on Thursday while deliberating on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech on March 17.

    Mr Emmanuel Tsamdu, representing Former Local Government Chairmen, from North East, said creation of more states would help the marginalised groups or ethnic minorities to have a sense of belonging.

    “It may interest you to know that I am from one of the most marginalised part of this country.

    “Our past leader and hero, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saudana of Sokoto promised that we should be treated equally with other provinces, such as Borno, Adamawa and Bauchi but today it is only my province that is not a state.

    “I therefore call on Nigerians to look into this matter and create a state where the minorities will be put together not to be marginalised and this state will be called Amana State, from Adamawa state, ’’ Tsamdu said.

    He also stressed the need for Nigerians to improve the security of the country especially the North East zone.

    Justice F. F. Tabai, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, representing the Judiciary also called for the creation of more states to carry along the marginalised group in the country.

    “I also support the call for the creation of state,’’ Tabai said.

    Also Mr John Uko, a delegate representing North Central also called for state creation and power rotation at all levels of government.

    “The minority have been given attention in Mr President’s speech as he emphasised on inclusion, consensus and harmony.

    “Let us support states creation and power rotation at all levels of government. In the way the Idoma and Igede minority of Benue State can dream big dreams,’’ Uko said.

  • Confab: Good start, but bumpy road ahead

    Confab: Good start, but bumpy road ahead

    Contrary to widespread scepticism and apprehensions, the National Conference in Abuja got off to a good start. The initial hiccup over voting procedure on the decisions or resolutions of the conference has been amicably resolved by consummate tact and diplomacy, with both sides accepting a compromise. Instead of the 75 percent of minimum votes that Northern delegates had asked for to block decisions they may not like, and the two thirds that most of the Southern delegates had demanded, the conference settled for 70 per cent of delegates voting on any contentious issues on which a consensus cannot be reached. This is a fair deal.

    The plenary session has also gone quite well. The Chairman of the Conference, Justice Kutigi, has earned the confidence and respect of the delegates at the conference, essential for its success. With the exception of the controversial speech at the plenary by the Lamido of Adamawa threatening secession, which was denounced by many delegates, including some Northern delegates, most of the other interventions at the plenary have been forthright, responsible, and sober, reflecting the mood and hopes of the public that this conference will be successful. It has to be as it may well be the last chance for Nigeria to secure its future as one united and prosperous nation. The selection of committee chairmen and vice chairmen caused some sharp disagreement. But this too has been resolved. There has been no real threat so far of secession, although the idea is never too far from the surface.

    A bumpy road ahead.

    However, the road ahead of the conference is likely to be bumpy. It will require a display of statesmanship on all sides to resolve some of the thorny issues that will emerge at the conference. Both at plenary and at the committee level, where the really important work and trade offs will be done, great tact and diplomacy will be needed to move the conference forward and avoid its total collapse, with some regional delegates walking out of the conference. Among the contentious issues likely to emerge as the conference progresses are the formula for the sharing of the national revenue, state control of natural resources, the demand for state police, federal/state relations, presidential vs. parliamentary system of government, the future role of ethnic nationalities in the nation, the demand for the restructuring of the country into six regional zones as the basic unit of governance in the country and the demand for the creation of more states in the federation. Some of these issues are more contentious and important than others.

    Resource Control.

    Of these, the most difficult and contentious is the sharing among the centre and the states of the federally collectible revenue. Currently, the federal government gets about 51 per cent of these national revenues, while the 36 states, plus Abuja, and over 700 local governments together receive the balance of only 49 per cent. By any standards, the federal share is much too large and has been a sore point with the Southern states where there is a strong demand for a significant reduction in the federal share of the national revenue. Although there is really no regional or party consensus on this among the delegates, most of the Southern states would prefer that revenue allocation be based on the principle of derivation, as was the case in 1960 when Nigeria became independent. At that time, the annual budgets of the Western and Eastern regions of the country were both bigger than those of the federal government, to which the three regions made financial contributions. It was during the long period of military rule in Nigeria that the federal share of national revenue increased dramatically to the point now where its share is more than that of all the other governments of the federation combined. But most Northern delegates are not too keen on any radical change in the formula for revenue allocation. It suits the Northern states.

    There is no justification for this gross financial imbalance between the federal and the states at all, and the states are right to demand a larger share of the federally collectible revenue. It may be argued that Nigeria needs a strong central (federal) government and that this requires adequate financial resources at the centre to successfully run the country. But over the years, the federal government has not really succeeded in doing so despite the huge financial resources at its disposal at the expense of the states and local governments. Instead, the nation is in a far worse state now than it was at independence, when the share of the federal government in the national revenue was less than 30 per cent. Besides, the reduction of the economic activities of the federal government, through the strategy of privatisation and withdrawal from state sponsored commercial enterprises, should also lead to a reduction in its financial commitments. These should now be confined to security and the improvement of social and physical infrastructure in the nation. It is in the states that more funds are needed to improve the standard of living of the people. That is where new jobs, in huge demand, can be created, not at the federal level, where there has been a colossal financial recklessness and mismanagement. Less federal funds should also lead to less corruption and financial profligacy at the centre.

    The Southern states, particularly the oil bearing states, want to be in control of their oil resources and will, as usual, ask again for not less than 50 per cent of the federally collectible revenue, as they did at the 2005 national political reform conference in which I participated as a federal delegate. The Northern delegation will oppose this as it did in 2005, offering 19 per cent instead, which the South -eastern delegates rejected. It was on this issue that the 2005 conference broke down completely. This scenario of the wide divergence between the Northern delegation and the South- eastern delegation over revenue sharing is likely to repeat itself, unless the two sides in the dispute are able to work out a suitable and mutually acceptable compromise. This will be difficult to achieve and may lead to the total collapse of the conference.

    State Police.

    The creation of state police is another controversial issue. Many of the states, particularly in the South, want state police to check the extensive coercive powers of the centre, often used to harass and intimidate the opposition parties. The recent conflict between the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mr. Mbu, the former Commissioner of Police in the state, shows what use the federal authorities can make of the Nigerian Police which it controls exclusively. Thinking of a reversion of political power to the North in future, Northern delegates are not keen on state police. But Nigeria is the only federal state that runs a single federal police. The police should now be de-federalised so that states that want to create their own police force can do so. There will no doubt be some abuse of the state police by governors. But such abuse will be no worse than the current abuse of the Nigeria Police by the federal government. But here again, there is a conflict between the Northern and Southern delegations that could end in a deadlock. I think Nigeria will be better policed by a multiple police force instead of a single police that has become corrupt, inept and incompetent. The creation of state police will enable the federal police focus better on the current and increasing internal security threats to the nation.

    Though still contentious, it should not be too difficult to reach a consensus on most of the other issues, such as the creation of more states (unlikely), the replacement of the existing presidential system by a Westminster model or the cumbersome restructuring of the country into six administrative zones, for which there is little support in the country. The fact of the matter is that whatever the attractions might be, these proposed changes are no longer feasible. The states are here to stay. It will be difficult now to dissolve them. And responsibilities for the creation of new local governments should be turned over to the states. It should not be a federal matter at all. There is a limit to how far and how often the Constitution should be amended or changed. The problem of Nigeria is not really the Constitution but an inept, incompetent and corrupt leadership, a drag on the nation.

  • Confab: Delegate advocates part-time unicameral legislature

    A delegate, Dr Phillips Salau, at the ongoing National Conference on Wednesday in Abuja advocated a part-time unicameral legislature to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

    Salau, representing North-Central zone, also advocated that the number of ministers, commissioners, special advisers, supervisors and other aides, should be cut down to reduce cost of governance.

    “The presidential system is still the better option for our plural, heterogeneous polity. However, part-time unicameral legislature is advocated to reduce cost of governance.

    “For the executive arm of government, the number of ministers, commissioners, special advisers, supervisors and other aides should be pegged to also reduce cost of governance.

    Salau further called for completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the Itakpe Iron Ore Project to enhance industrialisation in the country.

    He said the companies would provide employment opportunities for some jobless Nigerians.

     

  • Confab: Delegate advocates 3 children per family

    A delegate representing South-West at the ongoing National Conference, Mr Ajibola Ogunsola, on Tuesday advocated a maximum of three children per family to check population explosion.

    Ogunsola, who was contributing to debate at the plenary, said the population growth had become a major problem to the economy.

    According to him, the population growth does not correspond with the level of productivity in the country.

    Ogunsola said the explosion in population was a major cause of massive unemployment and other social problems.

    “Our current annual population growth rate is estimated at 2.5 per cent. If we continue like this the population will double in about 30 years’ time.

    “A Nigerian woman gives birth to an average of 5 children while a whopping 43 per cent of our population is less than 14 years old.

    “The excessive population growth, which is not counterbalanced with adequate productivity, is a major cause of the massive unemployment and other social problems mentioned by previous speakers.

    “Any person, male or female, who fathers or mothers more than three children is contributing to Nigeria’s population problem,” he said.

    Ogunsola said issues such as security, devolution of power, cost of governance and immunity clause should be adequately deliberated upon to ensure a better Nigeria.

  • Confab: Delegates ask FG to redouble efforts on security

    Confab: Delegates ask FG to redouble efforts on security

    Delegates at the National Conference on Monday, resumed plenary with calls on government and security agencies to redouble their efforts to stem the rising spate of insecurity in the country.

    The delegates had shortly after resumption drew attention to the kidnap of Chief Edwin Clark’s son and the weekend’s massacre of more than 100 people in Zamfara.

    Haliru Mohammed, delegate representing the elder statesmen, called on the conference to send an emissary to felicitate with Clark over his son’s release.

    “Unfortunately, we were seated here last week when we heard that the son of Chief Edwin Clark, one of our own elder statesmen in this conference was kidnapped.

    “Some of us visited him and found him and his people very disturbed. Fortunately during the weekend, we received the news that Egbekeme Clark has been released safe and sound.

    “It was good news to us all, but I will like to move that this house sends a message of felicitation to Chief Edwin Clark.

    “Chief Clarke is one of us in this chamber and therefore, I think it will be necessary to felicitate with him on the safe release of his son,” he said.

    Haliru, who was the former PDP Acting National Chairman and former Defence Minister, however, said government needed to do more to bring the issue of kidnapping under control.

    “We have enough problems with by-lines in all parts of the country, in Zamfara during this weekend; about 120 people were massacred in one village.

    “These incidences, the conference, of course will come to a point where we will discuss the security issues.

    “I want to appeal to government at all levels and security agencies to do something urgent and drastic to address this loss of lives which has become persistent in this country,” he said.

    Seconding the motion, Sen. Adefemi Kila, representing the Nigerian Society of Engineers, stressed that insecurity has posed a serious challenge to the country.

    “Security matter is very serious and germane in this country. These kidnappers are not spirits, they live with us.

    “I feel happy that Chief Clark’s son has been released without paying a dime. That means these kidnappers live with us and can be identified,” he said.

    Kila expressed dissatisfaction with the current approach to combat the menace and challenged the relevant authorities to step up the fight against insecurity.

    The Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd) following the secondment, put the motion into a voice vote.

    The motion was overwhelmingly supported by the delegates and Kutigi, consequently, directed that a letter of felicitation be written to to Clark over his son’s release.

    However, an attempt by some delegates to call for a letter of commiseration to be written to the government and people of Zamfara, was ruled out by the chairman.

    Kutigi had contended that too many letters should not be written today, but said it could be discussed on Tuesday, and called for progress on the day’s agenda.

    NAN reports that the delegates consequently continued discussions on President Goodluck Jonathan’s address to them at the inauguration of the conference

  • What did Lamido say wrong at the confab?

    What did Lamido say wrong at the confab?

    A national conference dedicated to renewal or reinforcement of territorial unity is not a wrong place for the Lamido and others with courage to ignore history of nationalities

    I have heard our people say that we need to openly and frankly discuss our problems and seek acceptable solutions instead of allowing them to fester and remain sources of perennial conflict…. The conference is open for us to table our thoughts and positions on issues, and make recommendations that will advance our togetherness….We cannot join hands together to build a collective vision if we continue to harbor negative biases and prejudices against ourselves….Over the coming weeks, you will be confronted with complex and emotive issues, strong views will be expressed by opposing sides and some disagreements will, in all likelihood, be intense—  President Goodluck Jonathan at the opening of the ongoing confab

    In the last few days, the Lamido of Adamawa has been reported as threatening to walk out of the conference and as boasting before delegates that in the event that Nigeria breaks up, he has a country to go to in the Republic of Cameroons. He assured his fellow delegates that Nigeria’s disintegration would give him an opportunity to rule over the larger part of his kingdom than the portion he currently presides over within Nigeria. For saying this, some delegates have fired at him with caustic words for not acting in consonance with the grandeur of his office and for mentioning the taboo word,break-up of Nigeria at a conference that had foresworn not to mention such a word of national embarrassment.

    Given the admonitions of President Jonathan at the conference, the Lamido has not done anything untoward or unwholesome. He has just expressed his feelings in an overtly emotive manner against the pedestrian or puerile behavior of delegates with opposing views to the rule to make 75% of votes the basis of majority decision.To people who are transitive carriers of culture, the Lamido of Adamawa said what is crucial at a conference designed to re-launch the country. Re-launching has to be preceded by deconstructing what needs to be repaired or transformed.

    Was the emir wrong in saying that his emirate extends beyond Nigeria into the Cameroons? Nigerian History101 makes this clear. Lamido is not unique in having pre-colonial kingdoms that extend today into other countries in Africa. The Ooni of Ife and the Alafin of Oyo make similar claims about Yoruba kingdoms in the Republics of Benin and Togo. Several Yoruba monarchs hold annual festivals and rituals that demonstrate the linkage. So can the Obong of Calabar make the kind of claim made by the Lamido. Nothing can prevent the Sultan of Sokoto or Ekanem of Kanuri from making similar claims. During ShehuShagari’s presidency, AlhajiShugaba was deported from Nigeria for not being a Nigerian but a citizen of Niger Republic. Political folklore during the era of military dictatorship even cited several military leaders as having their ancestry in Chad, Niger, Mali, and Sudan. Such is the character of most post-colonial African countries. The Akan of Ghana are the same as the Baoule of Cote d’Ivoire, just as the Hutus of Rwanda also extend into parts of the Republic of Congo. So do the Tswana and Sotho extend beyond the borders of Republic of South Africa.

    A national conference dedicated to renewal or reinforcement of territorial unity is not a wrong place for the Lamido and others with courage to ignore history of nationalities.To forget the pre-colonial history of Nigerian nationalities is tantamount todenialism or refusing to come to terms with reality.Denialism as a syndrome came to its head during the military era, when military rulers thought and believed that cultural amnesia would reinforce inter-ethnic unity in the country, the way it was believed, it had done in the colonial army bequeathed to Nigeria at independence by British colonial overlords.

    Many highly placed civilians (some of whom General Alani Akinrinademust have referred to during his contribution on President Jonathan’s opening speech as collaborators in the military’s schemes to de-federalize Nigeria) have also promoted denialism as a way of forestalling any attempt to deconstruct the Nigeria constructed by military dictators. It is this attitude that induced some delegates to re-affirm in response to the Lamidothat they came to the conference as Nigerians and not with any ethnic toga or stigma, as if it was not obvious to citizens that President Jonathan did not allow nomination of Ghanians or Beninoise to the conference.

    On the political level, denialism or burying one’s head in the sand like an ostrich in order not to confront the unpleasantness of one’s situation, had since 1966 led to categorizing issues for discussion at national conferences into No-go areas and May-enter zones. It is the continuation of this military vision of Nigeria that made it mandatory for the Okuroumu advisory group and President Jonathan himself to repeat the notion of No-go area for the ongoing conference. Nigerians are not allowed to discuss the endangerment of the unity that defines the country. Thus delegates must have been obeying their master’s voice by shrinking or freezing when the Lamido mentioned the fact that he has a country to return to, should this one collapse.

    In most countries that had to review their charter of union in the past, serious-minded people had avoided playing the ostrich with such activities. It must not be lost on delegates that there is always a need to break eggs in order to makeomelette. Saying what appears unpleasant to many delegates, as the Lamido of Adamawa had done, does not automatically kill the country’s unity. It shouldn’t if there is already a good reason for the country’s existence. On the contrary, it may end up enhancing it, particularly if delegates choose to remind Lamido and others with his sense of history that a rule that allows 26% or even 31% to annul the wishes of 74% or 69% is capable of further reinforcing the status quo that made the conference necessary in the first place. Accepting a rule that allows less than one-third of voters to rubbish the preference of more than two-thirds can undermine the unity of any country that practices democracy.Delegates need to emphasize that most Nigerians do not live along the border and would not have any other country to run to should this one disintegrate and that the wish of such people requires as much protection as that of Lamido, if Nigeria is to be sustainably united.

    Anyone that goes to a conference of this magnitude with morbid fear to speak his or her mind about what ails Nigeria should not have been there or would not have been there if nationalities had been allowed to elect their delegates. Nothing is likely to damage the unity of Nigeria the more than efforts to paper over the cracks by people with hidden agenda or occluded expectations from the opportunity to serve as delegate. As Nigerians love to say: “It is not over until it is over.” Should self-deception define the psychology of delegates, the desire for true federalism (as distinct from mere devolution of functions by a central government that arrogates supervisory authority over subnational governments) will continue to be a part of Nigeria’s political agenda and discourse, for as long as it takes and regardless of the number of conferences called to do so.

  • Group condemns confab delegates over feeding debate

    Group condemns confab delegates over feeding debate

    Delegates at the on-going National Conference have been condemned for complaining about the feeding arrangement provided by the leadership of the conference.

    A group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) described the action of the delegates as selfish, saying that they are dwelling on trivial issues at the expense of burning national issues that engendered the conference.

    The group stated this in release made available to The Nation.

    The executive chairman of the coalition, Mr. Debo Adeniran, stated that many of the delegates  have forgotten the reason for the conference.

    He said, “It’s high time some of the delegates realized that the Conference is meant to discuss critical issues about Nigeria and chart a new course for the country and not just to deliberate on inconsequential things. The rejection of food by some of them is a pointer to the selfishness of our so-called leaders. That is another way to show clearly that many are at the conference for the material gains. Just some weeks into the conference, many of them have forgotten why they are there only to cry wolves for selfish reasons. The other time, it was some of them demanding allowances for their aides.

    “The vacant seats we see on television and the pattern of debate show many absentee participants and people who are just there to sleep away their time. Only a few appear on television interviews, many don’t even make contributions, but became active when the debate is on personal gains.

    “If they felt that the food they were given was not good enough, they should have offered to procure food for themselves from their conference allowances rather than demanding they monetize it. They should have it at the back of their mind that part of what they are to do at the confab is to reduce the cost of governance and profligacy in government, hence, they shouldn’t be seen to be partaking in such profligacy.

    “They should also realize that they will give account of whatever they are given at the conference to the community that sent them. They should therefore endeavor to come back with a neat balance sheet of their receipts and expenditures of the conference allowances.”

  • Confab: Cleric tasks delegates on sincerity

    Pastor Sola Odumosu, the Oyo State Overseer, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Bible Church, has urged delegates to the national conference to be sincere and debate issues that would move the country forward.

    Odumosu gave the advise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ogbomoso on Friday.

    He said that the country’s dream of becoming a prosperous nation would be realised if the delegates would be sincere in their deliberations.

    “The president is sincere to say we should come round and sit to discuss together,’’ he said, and called on the delegates to make use of the opportunity availed them to contribute meaningfully.

    Odumosu said that the issue of corruption was beyond government and human power but spiritual, adding that people needed to be transformed and move closer to God.

    Speaking on the 2015 general elections, the cleric urged the people to be committed to a violence-free poll and pray for its smooth conduct.

    “The incumbent president since inception kept saying that his presidency does not worth the blood of anyone.

    “So, people should see reason why they should not risk their lives unnecessarily for anybody because of election,’’ he said.

    Odumosu said that the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, always offered special prayers for the people in government and the country at large.

    He described the signing of the law prohibiting same sex in the country as one of the good things that had happened to the nation.

    Odumosu said that it took courage and conviction on the part of the president and the National Assembly to take that decision.

    “Nigeria is a sovereign nation, so nobody can intimidate us. I will just encourage the president and the National Assembly to stand by their decision.

    “When you stand on the right side. God will continue to be on your side irrespective of where threats are coming from,’’ he said.

    He enjoined parents and religious organisations to guide the youths to the right direction to reposition the country.

    “So, that is why we help them. We give the youth specific attention and just about two weeks ago the church organised a special youth conference.

    “We do that from time to time, that is for the last quarter, I believe God that in another quarter we are still going to do it. We are really interested in the youths,’’ he said.

    Odumosu said that the church would hold a three-day crusade in Ibadan at Depeer Life Camp Ground, Km. 10, Deeper Life Bus-stop, beginning from April 11 to April 13 at 5p.m daily.

    He said that the crusade would be presided over by the general overseer was for participants from Osun, Oyo and Ogun states

     

  • Confab: The merry makers in Abuja

    This column will not be distracted by the on-going grand revelry in Abuja which most of us have been deceived to think is a national conference. As has been noted once before in this column, it is indeed more for me a national cake sharing conference than a serious meeting of minds by people in a troubled nation needing urgent catharsis. I dismissed this jamboree first because the chief convener, President Goodluck Jonathan, is not particularly interested in a conference or any scheme to lift Nigeria from her current morass; two, he does not really appreciate the fact that the country he oversees is in extremely dire straits; three, there are a few quick actions he could take in his capacity as the numero uno which will begin to set the country aright, but has neglected to take; four, he could have dredged up the reports of over half a dozen past confabs, (back to Aburi) and set up a small committee to pick out some of those crucial matters troubling us.

    Finally on why I think this conference is a ruse, should it by any chance conclude that a certain Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the crooked log that upsets our bonfire, would Mr. President gracefully stand down and allow an interim government set our dear country aright? You guessed it!

    We are back on that worn path that we have walked aimlessly since after the civil war. When each head of state reach the end of his tethers and has no more tricks in his bag, he plays the final gambit: set up a talk show; assemble all the politicians and kakistocrats in the land and throw in a sprinkling of the so-called progressives and critics; dole out enough money for them to revel for a few months while the head perfects his next move.

    The scheme is working quite fine so far: so many compatriots who have never seen a million naira in one bunch in the last decade; people whose bank accounts have been cold and forlorn for years suddenly find their treasuries leap to life and a series of glad-tiding alerts warm their hearts every forth-night. Wow! What a fresh lease of life, what good life, what good fortune! In the ensuing licentious three months, the city of Abuja would hear it from some of our nouveau riche delegates; those who love strong drinks would get bacchanal and quaff the quaff of their lives, while those who are hot in the tail will find solace in the bosom of the city’s Cleopatras. The real story of the Jonathan confab will however be told in the winter of the years to come.

    We want to wager that this talk show has the potential to turn out worse than previous ones because of the set of people attending now. We are a more thoroughly dumbed-down nation now. Very few in that hall understand the enormity of issues at stake and the attendant urgency; half the people are gerontocrats who would sleep through the show while many couldn’t care less whichever way it goes – they are there for the money and would do anything (including filibustering) for even more money. Lastly, how many other countries have had as many conferences and still remain in the doldrums? Could it be that we suffer collective mental impairment and require conferences upon conferences before we can sort basic questions of nationhood?

    The power paradox

    While we indulge in what one wants to consider as inanities, important matters that affect the very soul of the polity are passing us by. The other day in far away Windhoek, Namibia, we were told that President Goodluck Jonathan, while on a visit, signed a MoU for the setting up of a refinery in the tiny southern African country. According to report, it would be a private venture between Nigerian and Namibian businessmen. This was all the information made available. But we ask, does it require a bilateral MoU if some businessmen seek to expand their frontiers? Why Namibia which has no crude oil and not Nigeria which has crude but no refineries? If our president could catalyse the building of a refinery in a distant land, why has he not done so for his country that has been embroiled in energy crisis even to this moment? There are so many questions to be asked which suggest that something is fishy, if not phony, about this refinery.

    From Namibia to the Democratic Republic of Congo where yet another MoU has been reportedly signed by Nigeria for the importation of electricity from the Inga Power Dam Plants. According to Mr. Mohammed Wakil, Minister of State for Power, Inga hydro plant being built on the Congo River is expected to generate about 40,000 megawatts on full exploitation. Nigeria is expected to take a chunk of the power to form a West Africa regional power hub. Brilliant idea if we were operating at the magnitude we ought.

    Do we really want to wire power from Congo DR, across three countries to Nigeria? We can’t even transmit all of 5,000 mw today if we generated it! Who will bankroll this seeming outlandish scheme? Just like in energy, the power sector is in a state of chaos and we need all the investment we can get at home. It is like sending troops to Afghanistan when a war is raging at home. We must quit playing games with our country.