My advice to delegates to the National Conference: The truth, though unpalatable, is that this house has fallen. Nigeria is not working; that is why we needed this talk in the first place. This advice is of course subjective and so does not pretend to be, and of course, cannot be the whole story. Here we go: 1. Go there as a member representing one of the constituent nations making up this multinational entity called Nigeria, who wants to build a new Nigeria, not trying to patch up theunpatchable. To that extent, be willing to make concessions but not compromises. That way, well have a better country at the end of the day.) 2. Do not get carried away by the comforts and the allowances. This should not be taken as an insult; some of you are certainly going to be overwhelmed by the comforts at your five-star accomodation. (Remember your people back home are expecting you to come back with the best deal possible!) 3. Those of you that got nominated by the government, if you have any sense, should switch loyalty immediately you get there. (Jonathan may have nominated you but your loyalty lies with your people. Jonathan does not own you body and soul; what more, he does not own Nigeria either.) 4. Do not go there with the aim ofgraciouslyincreasing what accrues to the owners of the oil as derivation. (They are the owners of their oil, and are at liberty to decide what they will give the rest of Nigeria, or even not at all. Fighting over other peoples resources does not make any sense; it only confirms that you are a parasite. Resource control is it; you have your own resources, some capable of generating more money than oil! There is no part of Nigeria that isgodforsaken; every inch of this awseomely rich land can support itself! Dont go there clinging to others like a horrible parasite. You are a human being and not a blood-sucking leech!) 5. Whatever your religion, keep it out of the Constitution; Nigeria must remain a secular country! (Religion is a form of neurosis that gradually turns to psychosis; so keep your internal turmoils and inner conflicts about whether you are going to makeParadiseorAl-Janahto yourself. That way, if your religion runs you mad, you will not afflict the rest of us with it. 6. Traditional rulers should not under any circumstances be mentioned in the constitution; Nigeria must remain a Republic! (Anyone who feels like prostrating for,Kabiyesi-ing,Igwe-ingorRanka ya dade-inga traditional ruler can do so as many times as they like, of their own accord; however, The Constitution must not in any overt, covert or subtle way, compel that!). 7. What does not make sense must be rejected outright. (Do not come back and begin to grumble and complain about what you have appended your signature to. Remember the Senator who cried after signing the child-marriage law). 8. Education must be made free at all levels, and must be cumpolsory up to secondary school. (Do not doubt that it can be funded, and not less than 20% of the budget must be dedicated to it). 9. It is absolute nonsense for the National Assembly to tinker with the outcome of the conference; that should not be acceptable to you. The outcome should be subjected to a referendum! (You cannot give what you dont have; they have had opportunity for fifteen years to amend the constitution. All they have been doing is collecting jumbo pay). 10. Finally, you have a chance to have your names written in gold; do not flunk this opportunity; posterity will not forgive you. (Remember! Yours will probably be the last peaceful assembly to resolve the Nigerian question!) I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:05:11 +0000
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