Without these, the conference is rubbish – 4

As things stand, each ethnic group has enough good grounds to confer within itself. Because each group has peculiar issues that needs to be solved from within. That is if we cannot rise above the issue of ethnicity. If the ethnic groups could have honest and enforceable dialogues within themselves, everything else will fall into […]

As things stand, each ethnic group has enough good grounds to confer within itself. Because each group has peculiar issues that needs to be solved from within. That is if we cannot rise above the issue of ethnicity. If the ethnic groups could have honest and enforceable dialogues within themselves, everything else will fall into place.  But for now, that is not the path we have chosen.  We have become instead like the man who ignored troubles within his own ‘yard’ to start accusing his neighbours of being behind his problems.
For example the Yorubas are losing their so-called educational advantage and that needs a conference. Yorubas are also losing elite consensus, which existed in the days we like to reminisce about, and which is very important for development. Lastly, we are having higher incidences of poverty than before, and we need more industries for higher productivity.  The Hausa/Fulani (so-called), inherited a disconnect between the civilization they are used to and what the Oyibo man offered. But the elite in the north, neglected their environment and gave the Mallams who teach Almajirais, too much power, for way too long, while sending their own children to Ivy Colleges abroad, until this Almajirai thing became a problem in their hands and became conflated with whatever violent conspiracy is behind so-called Boko Haram (another lie).
The Igbos have serious issues emanating from the externalized, performance-driven culture, which has led to many of its young men emigrating abroad, where they would usually fall into some problem or the other. As I wrote this, there was news of a gang war in South Africa, leaving 10 hospitalised. I have seen way too many videos, and read too many news items about the problems that Igbo guys have fallen into in the Gambia, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and just about everywhere else. Indeed, this factor has contributed greatly to the erosion of Nigeria’s image and goodwill abroad. This is something the elders should not close their eyes to, and that is worthy of discourse, plus enforceable solutions. The Binis/Edos/Esans still have problems with the issue of prostitution and Italy. And so on.
Among other things we have been saying to ourselves which we must desist from forthwith, by law, just as it is forbidden today to shout “Heil Hitler” in Germany, or to claim tribes in Rwanda (calling Tutsis ‘cockcroaches’) or Kenya, or to shout “Hi Jack” in an airplane, include:
1. The North will never taste power again. Or the north will not taste power until 2047! Since we know that we all want to focus on presidential candidates that can deliver the goods, why are we who claim to be intelligent still drawing ‘north, south, east, west’ into the argument of Nigeria’s leadership? Should that not be beneath us?  Or are we saying this just for the ‘nuisance value’ or annoying the so-called ‘north’.  Is it not evident that it really doesn’t matter where a president is from
2. “We used our money to develop Lagos, so Lagos belongs to us”. “Lagos is a no-man’s land”. In any place in the world, the issue of land is a touchy one. And most times, it is impossible, except enforced by extant laws and an existing government, and only in an atmosphere of peace, to enforce ‘ownership’ of land, just because a certain amount was paid to purchase it. Whereas anyone who pays for land and obtains certificates, owns such a land, it is needless, and irksome, to keep rubbing things in, in ways that may cause other problems. Of late, someone claimed that people of the Igbo ethnic group owns 75% of Lekki and Ikoyi, and therefore lambasted Governor Fashola for deliberately taxing them with his tolls. I was further alarmed, not because people don’t have a right to buy anything they want, but because this idea of purchasing whole cities, and rubbing it in as such, may lead to a very bitter internecine conflict with great costs. We are certainly on a wrong path here. Nowhere in our land is no-man’s-land, no matter what laws are on ground. Some things are better left unsaid, since no one has threatened to take away what is legally ours. Whatever we say, let us consider the consequences.
3. The general use of derogatory language against ourselves. At some point, I could say the Yorubas are one of the greatest culprits in this regard. Within Lagos alone, the Eguns are looked down upon and sometimes mocked. There was a time when the Yorubas thought they were the most sophisticated ethnic group. Globalization and communication is revealing new things, and I believe they are thinking differently while retaining their pride. But communication has also revealed that this is a general issue. In Hausa language you find things like Nyamiri, Beribe and other languages used to deride other people. All this must be frowned at and kicked off our lands. Of late and especially on social media, we hear things like “Awusa-Fool-ani”, cattle rearer, northern lepers, boko haram, and as if that is not bad enough, presidential and party spokesmen join in, as if there will never be a tomorrow. Olisa Metuh, the PDP spokesman, has been repeating “Janjaweed” in reference to his opponents in the APC. This is how bad things start. Do these people who say these things think it is a joke? Metuh, Abati and Okupe, have actively and directly drawn hatred towards Muslims, and ‘the north’ in many of their writings/speeches.
A nation is where its people devote more attention to the building of human and physical infrastructure and not personal chattel for the sake of egocentrism. A nation is where people take better care of public infrastructure than their own property, or at the same level.  What we have right now is total nonchalance to public property, and the illegal annexation of it where possible. A nation is where people show consideration to each other.  A nation is where people who have marked strength are gentle giants and carry others along, while those who have weaknesses don’t let that get them down but strap up and catch up.  A nation is where there are no minorities or majorities, but citizens who are ready to contribute their quota to progress. A nation is not where people come together, seeking vengeance at every turn, ready to play scorched-earth politics with each other. A nation, is a place of mutual respect and at least, a little bit of love.  A nation is where people are not judged by the groups they belong to, but by the content of their character.
Trust must return to the land. Nobody should have the right to erode whatever is left of our mutual trust.  Especially not government agents who are paid by Nigerians. Certainly not our politicians.  We’ve done enough damage already. If we achieve the much-vaunted regionalism, given the current sentiments, and without these tough issues being resolved, some regions will merely use their wealth to mock and insult others. And in no time, State Police will turn to regional armies. Who knows? They say “no country survives two civil wars”. Whereas the pursuit of selfish and ethnic interests seems to be the strategic aim of many of the loudest and most active voices on the floor of the conference today, still it is good to call attention to the issues on hand.

Concluded.