Re: National Conference set to explode over 50% derivation

Consequently, many well-meaning Nigerians spoke against forming it at this material time and advised the Nigerian leadership accordingly.  Nonetheless, the authorities, who are very insensitive to the honest and genuine feelings of the generality of the populace, went ahead and set it up.The Conference, as stated above, is clearly anti-Nigerian unity and its total commitment […]

Consequently, many well-meaning Nigerians spoke against forming it at this material time and advised the Nigerian leadership accordingly.  Nonetheless, the authorities, who are very insensitive to the honest and genuine feelings of the generality of the populace, went ahead and set it up.
The Conference, as stated above, is clearly anti-Nigerian unity and its total commitment for a continued existence as a united, indivisible and indissoluble country. Why?  This was obvious because, right from its conception down to its composition, the Conference contained all the basic ingredients and elements of political instability.  I certainly loathe believing that its authors have in mind the actualization of the United States’ prediction that our dear and only beloved nation – Nigeria – was set to break up, come 2015.   
Coming back to the point I would like to make.  I must appeal to the Northern Delegates in the Conference to please stay imperturbable and firm against all odds and prevent any hidden agenda to be smuggled in by a few unscrupulous, short-sighted and pseudo intellectuals.  Some of these few so-called intellectuals are mostly barren and morally bankrupt whose stock-in-trade, history has always revealed, is to stock confusion in such a national gatherings to reap personal interests as against our collective national interests.  Our Northern Delegates should never agree to go to vote either in the open or in secret because even the daftest human being can predict the outcome of a voting pattern of 192 people against twice their number.  The Conference’s set up was, indeed, a flat failure right from the way and manner it was conceived and cobbled together.  Undoubtedly, it was diversionary to the main issues at stake.  I will return to this later.
I wish to remind all our fellow Northern patriots who sincerely believe, despite our cultural and religious divergences, that coming and sticking together as an indivisible unit at this trying times is the best for us and agree that what is unfolding in this skewed Conference is not in the best interest of all of us.  We should all understand that the question of Resource Control has been a controversial issue since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates.  It has refused to go away.  Our Northern Delegates should therefore shed themselves off all the self-inflicted acrimonies that are daily being exploited and pursued vigorously by some disgruntled elements, and must come together and ensure that justice, being a cardinal principle of humanity, is ensured in the outcome of this imposed Conference.   
We support and encourage our Northern Delegates.  We therefore wholeheartedly urge them to withdraw from the Conference if any attempt is made to hoodwink them on the issue of Resource Control.  The idea of a Resource Control was again tabled in 1990/95 Constitutional Conference.  It was equally unanimously rejected by all the delegates from the States of the Federation with the exception of its authors who all hailed from the oil producing areas.  Similarly, another attempt was made when General Obasanjo, the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, initiated and assembled a Conference with almost identical agenda of becoming a life-President.  Resource Control was again brought out and it was hotly and exhaustively debated but overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates.  The idea of a Resource Control was therefore put to rest to ensure equity in the system.
In the same vein and in pursuance of Resources Control in disguise, the idea of six geo-political zones, as a Constitutional Base, was introduced by the Ibo Delegation headed by Dr Alex Ekwueme, the then Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari.  This was believed to have been done purposely as revenge against the entire North because he was not allowed to become the next President after the ouster of Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari by the military.  In fact, the Ibo delegations brought to the Conference, a voluminous booklet containing their actual position.  The 1979 Constitution was produced by elected representatives of the Nigerian peoples, after a draft of the proposed Constitution was presented to the Constituent Assembly, duly elected by the constituencies.
It is on record that the National Assembly, as currently composed, initiated a national debate on the same key amendments of the Constitution.  We should therefore say a resounding N0 to creating of new States over and above what the country now have.  It is an indisputable fact that most, if not all, of the States are economically unviable and can hardly stand the test of time if, and when, the Federation allocation stops coming.  This fact is the reason why I strongly believe that we need one another.      .  Political instability, we all know world over, is a fertile ground that breeds INSECURITY with mass revolt and probably shoddy revolution which can easily swallow the whole country.  When this happens, NOBODY and I repeat, NOBODY will be safe.  Unfortunately, we seem to be unconsciously marching on the BLEAK ROAD.  
The clamour for Resource Control by our brothers and sisters from the South-South has sadly confirmed to me that memory is too short for some people.  Many of us are inclined to believe that the persistence for controlling resources, creation of more States (equal representation by all the States), creation of six geographical zones (though unconstitutional), are all being fabricated and pursued to diminish the significance and weight of the population of the North.  Disappointedly to our protagonists, the size and population of the North CANNOT BE WISHED AWAY either in a Democracy or in the military.   
Yes, memory is too short otherwise the question of Resource Control would not have arisen at all.  In the first place the North gave a real cover, protection to the people of Niger Delta since the first Republic.  They allied with the defunct Northern Peoples Party (NPC) leadership and under that all-embracing umbrella, the people of Niger Delta and now South-South, enjoyed every protection and accommodation.  Their rights were not only ensured but significantly protected by the Northern leadership.  Similarly, during the unfortunate civil war era, the so-called Northern Army of Occupation created for them states after liberating them from the banditry of block and brutal colonialism of the rebels.   
One need not remind our brothers in the South-South that the strategy of putting them against the North has been the norm ever since and it has always proved a total FAILURE and, I believe, it will continue to be.  They should understand that in politics, even though, a period of aligning of common interests should not be a period of losing common sense.  They should be wary not to avail themselves to those that will use them for their own benefit  and dump them at a later stage.    
Unarguably, none of the minorities in the former East has ever become a President, Head of State, Chief of Army, Navy and Air Staff/Defence, Commandant NDA or Secretary to the Government of the Federation.  Why? It is simply because they were dominated by their majorities.  However, up North, both majorities and minorities behave as brothers and sisters and happily regard themselves as such.
`Having gone this far on the memory lane, I would like to conclude by urging our Northern Delegates who believe in justice for all of the people to, once more, withdraw from this ill-conceived Conference.  The outcome of the Conference stands diversionary hence discredited, in the face of the ever increasing insecurity in the country.   
Alhaji Sani, CON, a former minister, is the Dan Masanin Daura