Making the national dialogue work

The long standing uneasy inter-group relations in Nigeria have led to calls for a national conference. Proponents of a national conference believe there cannot be lasting peace in the country unless all the ethnic nationalities sit at a round table to review their co-existence and to chart a new course for a more functional and rewarding co-habitation.

Various organisations, including the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and The Patriots had at various times vehemently called for the convocation of a national conference.

Some administrations in the past put together some semblance of national dialogue, the outcomes of which fell short of the expectations of the Nigerian people. Such attempts were feeble and aimed at achieving some parochial ends. The reports that emanated from the conferences ended up in the dust bin.

Ordinarily, the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to cave in to the pressure for a national dialogue at this point in time, should receive an ovation, but the contrary has been the case as it has elicited a ground swell controversy. Pessimists believe it is not going to be different from the past experiments. Some others say the President may be using it to score certain political goal.

This pessimism was expressed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), when he described the proposed dialogue as a “Greek Gift”.

Adams Oshiomhole, governor, Edo State, also expressed same sentiment, when he told members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in Benin that the expected result may not be achieved in the end. According to him, “why do we think we can continue doing the same thing the same old way and think that this time the outcome would be different?”

President Jonathan preempted the deluge of criticism that the proposal would generate, hence his explanation during the inauguration of the Femi Okurounmu-led committee.

“Let me emphasise that this is a national project, a sincere and fundamental undertaking aimed at realistically examining and genuinely resolving long-standing impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development, as a truly united nation. However, we are in a democracy and in a democracy, elected leaders govern at the behest of the citizenry. As challenges emerge, season after season, leaders must respond with best available strategies to ensure that the ship of state remains undeterred in its voyage,” the President said.

Moreover, the President’s statement that the outcome of the national conference would be forwarded to the National Assembly to form an integral part of the ongoing constitutional amendment, may have not gone down well with many Nigerians.

It is our considered opinion that if the National Assembly would still sit over the decision of the generality of the Nigerian people at the conference, it would mean that Nigerians had sat in vain.

Our suggestion is that since it has been said that there would be no off limits during the discussion, whatever decision that is arrived at, and subjected to a referendum, should stand, and should be made part of the constitution. Any tinkering by the National Assembly would destroy the efforts.

The issue of sovereignty should not arise. It is true that Nigerians, by voting their representatives to the National Assembly, had surrendered their sovereignty, but as soon as the national dialogue comes on stream, the sovereignty belongs to the Nigerian People and whatever is the outcome of the dialogue should be binding on every citizen.

We want to urge every Nigerian to give the President a benefit of doubt. The national dialogue should not be politicised. All interest groups must be represented and their views and grievances carefully listened to, and documented.