Memo to national dialogue advisory committee

Many others still think a national conference is not amongst any of our top priorities. Their main point of argument is that the Nationality Question had been decided since 1914, what remained lacking is only good governance. These seesaws are unimportant; the bottom line is that the country has not been moving forward. Therefore, it […]

Many others still think a national conference is not amongst any of our top priorities. Their main point of argument is that the Nationality Question had been decided since 1914, what remained lacking is only good governance.
These seesaws are unimportant; the bottom line is that the country has not been moving forward.
Therefore, it is my considered opinion that since a seating President with a Constitutional mandate has taken it upon himself to take this risky path, of not agonizing but organizing a kind of a dialogue (like some others who also did it before him), then we should all give it to him.
However, in giving-in to him, it is imperative for all citizens to shout aloud, even if it is to argue against the timing and morality of the confab.
Firstly, to be fair to the Advisory Committee Members, they are mainly composed of fervent lovers and advocates of the conference in its various colours. Nevertheless, I can also see many apologists of the President amongst them, with no single member of the opposition even from his political party, included. This is ethically wrong. There should be as many shades of opinions as possible, especially during the take-off.
Secondly, time may not be on the side of the main conference to take place properly.
The whole of 2014 is a campaign year, and feelers from INEC are suggesting early elections (January/February 2015) in order to conclude major election litigations before swearing-in on 29th May.
Technically, therefore we have up to December 2013 to conduct an effective non-partisan national conference.
It is not late for the President to correct this lacuna, OR alternatively, the opposition may take-up this challenge and campaign vigorously to make their opinion heard.
Sitting on the fence will not add value to our nation!
The Advisory Committee can therefore advise itself to insist that the morally justifiable thing it can do is first to thrash out the Nationality question, for the last time.
One of the ways it can do so is to advise government to direct INEC to conduct a YES/NO referendum, within one month, on whether Nigerians would want to continue to stay together. The result of referendum will come-in soothingly, but definitely eye shining.
Rhetoric would then end, giving chance to action.
Based on this referendum on the National Question, the Nigerian legislature can have a genuine mandate of Nigerians to either re-jig the current Constitution, at their own convenience, or prepare to dismember Nigeria, as the case may be.

Musa Kwanda, Damaturu, [email protected]