RE: NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

Hajara Usman ([email protected]): I agree with all the points you made in your piece. My observation however is that you journalists have not done enough to reflect the wishes of the common man from the West-East-South to the North. We all love each other and would wish to continue living in one Nigeria despite our […]

Hajara Usman ([email protected]): I agree with all the points you made in your piece. My observation however is that you journalists have not done enough to reflect the wishes of the common man from the West-East-South to the North. We all love each other and would wish to continue living in one Nigeria despite our diversities. What is going on is an elite war on who will control power and resources. These groups of people use their wealth and power to confuse the ordinary people into believing that other ethnic groups are their problem, and then turn around to visit their own people with the worst form of oppression. We should not fall prey to wiles; but that is not to say that we should continue to keep silent with threats of SNC. Let the conference come and, at the end of the day, those thinking the North is their problem will be consumed by their own elite greed. Indeed, let us all go back and read Ayi Kwei Armah’s ‘The beautiful ones are not yet born.’
Abdullahi J Muazu ([email protected]): Your piece this week carried essentially the same message with that of Dr. Kabir Mato. Please get across to all your contemporaries and start a movement that shall, in sha Allah, champion the position of the North to this Conference that we must all canvass for. ‘Allah shi kara muku basira shi ku ma kare ku, amin.’
Jibril Sani Anana ([email protected]): I agree entirely with what you wrote but only sad that it is only now that you people are becoming wiser. For too long you and your well-to-do friends and sons of the so-called big men of the North felt that since you are comfortable (and of course since that comfort is based on a closeness with power either at State or National level), any discussion on re-examining Nigeria’s structure is deemed as an attack to your economic interests. Since the return of civilian rule in 1999, the pendulum seemed to have shifted elsewhere. The so-called majority are now the minority, which is an aberration in a supposed democracy. Why is this so? Some sons and daughters of the North, because of greed and self-centeredness, elect to inflict a fatal damage to the North and its people by introducing and sustaining electoral malpractice of the worst type known in history. The leadership is no longer afraid of the verdict of the people at the polls. What we have been seeing after every election is the defeated being crowned as the victor. Apart from a few verdicts upturning such phantom victories, most often at enormous costs to litigants, many others secured even more comprehensive victories at the courts. Yes, let there be a Sovereign National Conference. Let them or any other force redefine the basis of our stay as a nation. If we would enjoy peace in the new arrangement, people would welcome it. After all, with all the hues and cries about petroleum and other revenues accruing to Governments at all levels, what do the people get in return? Poverty and more poverty! If we are to be frank to ourselves, the level of hatred and inter-communal relations is at its lowest ebb. People now resort to self-help than using agencies or structures of Government. In this regard, any arrangement that would free people from this helpless situation would be welcome .I need not refer you to the hopeless situations that abound almost in every state or geopolitical zone with authorities not doing enough to address the contending issues. Let them convoke the Sovereign National Conference now; at least is a testimony that the system has failed and the present crop of elected officials have run out of ideas. We can’t have two sovereigns, and since it is the collective will of the people that is to prevail at the end of proceedings, the elected reps should give way now.
Mohammed Yaro ([email protected]): JazakalLahu khair for this and other pieces.
Hamza Myne ([email protected]): Thanks for this piece. A litre of groundnut oil is around N280, as against petrol which is N97. Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro can support North’s electricity needs. Our cows, Christmas goats, onions, pepper, cotton, leather, etc., are enough to export.  As a prelude to the National Conference, let us experiment for a short time and close down the two link bridges between North and South for just a month, and let’s see who blinks first. We will even have enough space in our unity schools, universities and other institutions. And a reduction in the Federal work force will help rebalance the quota system where we are short-changed…
Isa Mukhtar ([email protected]): Yes! We must call this periodic bluff by a section of the country not only by saying enough is enough as regard abuses and accusations from these people, but accepting to hold the so-called sovereign national conference with immediate effect. This would enable us to ensure those wishing to use it for 2015 elections, a la Obasanjo in 2007 Third Term bid, fail woefully, and would also remove the wool from the eyes of those living in self- deceit. Bring on the sovereign national conference now! We are more than ready for the challenge!
Muhammad Al-Khamis Idris ([email protected]): What a wonderful, ma sha Allah well-written piece! I am very happy with it. May Allaah increase you in erudition, refined thought dissemination and courage, amin. Yes to a National Conference! ‘Mai tsoron ta mutu shi ya ke maho!’ Bravo Alayk Ya Brother!
Bello Garba ([email protected]): Allah saka maka da alkhairi. Please write more on this Sovereign National Conference. Call their bluff. The North has nothing to lose economically etc. We only need to organise ourselves, be focused and disciplined as well as have visionary leaders on top of our affairs. We are blessed with these people and you are one of them. Thanks. And jazakalLahu khairan.
Abubakar Abdullahi ([email protected]): Your write-up on the National Conference is a reader’s delight, and it has made my day. Please continue to drum it into their ears, and to those that care to listen, “Who’s afraid of sovereign national conference?” The time for that conference is now! God bless you and may your pen never go dry.
Abdullahi Salisu ([email protected]): Wallahi I am very happy for what you pointed out in this piece. I quite agree with you – YES TO A NATIONAL CONFERENCE! How I wish it is I who has such baiwa to explain such intricacies in simple, plain, lucid language. Kai Mallam I wish you more blessed years and knowledge. Wassalamu Alaikum.
Asma’u Yahaya ([email protected]): Your anger was palpable! Yes! Let’s call the bluff! Who is afraid of a National Conference? Haba!
Sa’id Ahmad Dukawa ([email protected]): Yes, let there be! You have indeed spoken the mind of a multitude. Let there be the sovereign national conference and let any ambition be! Enough is enough! And don’t mind those who will say you have spoken in anger. There is time for everything, even speaking in anger. Haba, indeed!!!
EPLOGUE: A pro-Jonathan group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) on Wednesday threatened to cut oil supplies to the North if Northerners continue in the opposition to the 2015 ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. Issuing the threat, the militant group accused the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and some Northern Governors of kicking against Jonathan’s reelection, saying this cannot stop the President in 2015.
And now, says this Column, over to the onion merchants!