Nigerians Discuss Whether Confab Delegates Have Met Expectations

Will the National Conference, an assembly of almost 500 delegates, be able to meet aspirations and expectations of the rest of Nigeria?

It would be recalled that back in October 2013, as Nigeria marked the Independence Day, President Goodluck Jonathan announced his intention to prompt political and social discourse. After much preparations and discussions, the Conference was inaugurated on 17 March, 2014. For four months, the delegates were supposed to address and resolve the major issues affecting Nigeria in a negative way.

The Nigeria's National Conference 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," according to the official site.

We have asked our fellow Nigerians what they thought of the National Conference.

Hopes for a positive outcome

A number of Legit.ng respondents were quick to express their optimistic views, commending the delegates for their efforts to make Nigeria a better place and hoping for a positive outcome of the undertaking. Also, they noted how important it is for the rest of Nigerians to stand united and support the delegates’ decisions. This is what they said:

Believe Benjamin: I think they are trying their best, because they cannot satisfy every person.

Abisad Multiventures: The conference is a welcome development to our current democracy and co-existence as a nation. Kudos to the Goodluck Jonathan's administration for listening to the yearnings and demands of the people of this country to arrange a constitutional conference that is currently on-going. So far so good, I'm impressed. The delegates have also done a good job in most of their resolutions. My prayer now is, may their final resolutions bring about enduring democratic practice, co-existence and unity of purpose to this God's own country called Nigeria.

Samuel Etim: For me, the Confab is a veritable tool for peaceful cohesion and national development. Of course, all findings and suggestions should be made into laws after a referendum. If the people are allowed to vote for change, then the tax payers’ money used to convoke the sittings will be said to be allocated sensibly.

Joel Sinla: No efforts are wasted. At least they talk about state policing, control of resources. 5% of Nigeria budget goes North to rebuild places affected by bombs and assist local families. They talk about education reform and cover many more topics. For once in our life, let’s support ourselves and bless Nigeria.

Success Onovwiona Eriose Peters: It's a huge progress. I think it will help in terms of planning towards peace and success of our beloved nation. Thanks to all delegates representing every state, region, and group of Nigeria – please keep up the good work. R.I.P. to those who died trying and fighting for the nation during the Conference.

Mbera Samuel Tyoasonge: Most of the delegates are trying to ensure development of our nation. If only other Nigerians and the National Assembly would support their motion!

Jehu Bako: My fellow Nigerians, let's learn to support our leaders by praying for them instead of criticising without correction.

Harsh Criticism

Notwithstanding, this positive predisposition did little to mitigate the palpable disapproval of the better part of the commentators who, albeit humorously, described the exercise as another "useless jamboree," "waste of time and resources," "pensioners' conference," "vanity upon vanity," "babariga/agbada fashion show". The delegates are "sleepers" who, according to critics, invest "zero percent efforts," "lack focus and direction" and are "busy doing nothing".

Below are the responses of aggrieved and weary Nigerians:

Entering the "No-Go" area

The National Conference was set up to give a "cross-section" of Nigerians, including the professional bodies group, an opportunity to put their heads together in identifying and solving all kinds of drawbacks. However, President Jonathan has specifically stressed that there shall be no discussions on threats to Nigeria's unity and/or dissolubility of the nation. Reacting to our inquiry, quite a number of readers have observed that, after all, these two subjects may also be a reason of our country's hardships. 

Some observers pointed out the grievances voiced by the Northern candidates:

Some have suggested their topics for discussion and voiced what they are expecting:

Anene Moses Chigozie: My view is that we should return to regional govt, or we subject the membership of various ethnic nationalities of this country to a referendum. I discovered that there are more things that divide us than those things that bind us. An average Igbo man believes so much in Biafra-MASSOB, an Average Yoruba-OPC man has lost hope in the entity called Nigeria,  an average Hausa-Arewa man, especially those from the North East, are praying for secession, while Middle Belt are eager to be on their own. Then tell me why we should remain one Nigeria? UN should intervene so as to stop daily bloodletting in Nigeria.

Benjamin Chisimdi: They have tried. But they should discuss division of the country.

Yimanu Kianen San Gcfr: The Southern delegates are trying their best. The Northerners are trying to thwart their (S. delegates’) efforts. All in all, after the NC, we'll return largely to the status quo.

Saifullahi Kankara: I am strongly advising Northern delegates to pull out on the basis of inequality.

Obed Etobe: This National Conference should review one issue that I think is very important: voter literacy baseline. Yes, in other democracies, it's 'one man, one vote' because the literacy level in those climes is generally high. Otherwise, the system of government isn't usually democracy. In the Nigerian democracy, one cup of rice each, given with an oath of commitment, is enough to swing the votes of our largely illiterate voters. The vote isn't as important as the sure meal for the moment. In some places, these 'voters' are herded to a big man's house, shown the broom or the umbrella which they memorize and repeat: broom, broom, broom, until they get to the polling unit and 'vote'. Don't get me wrong: the professors can also 'collect' but the professor is more likely to collect a bigger purse and still vote his conscience, oath or no oath. So, should we not leave the matter of voting to those who understand the importance? Should there not be a minimum academic qualification, say WASC/GCE (but not the Chibok Girls Secondary School type!) to qualify you as a Nigerian voter?

Valentine Nwankwo: I did not buy the idea of taxing churches. I think something has to be done.

Anwene Ahmed: My concern is what becomes of the outcomes of the conference? Will the resolutions be included in the Constitution through act of Parliament or what?

Kehinde Lemibare Eyebiokin: Those who bribe others and those who accept bribes should be subjected to judgement. Also, any candidate running for any poll in this nation should have all properties and family within Nigeria, so that all our resources won't end up somewhere abroad.

Virginbride Chinonso: Yawa conference, maimai conference, bolli conference, gbegiri conference, nyama-nyama conference, pockets-enrich conference, successfully failed conference. Abeg make I go sleep on my waterbed jare!

Pyarrap Solomon: Same people that have failed the nation at different times are the ones in the Confab now. What do you expect, apart from the usual laws to favour themselves? We a need a Constitution written and accepted by all Nigerians.

Sevza Asongo: We Nigerians like talking. Talking is good. Let's talk.

Adetola Oye: They were treating some important issues but at the moment they came up with the issue of states' creation, they've started to look like a pack of jokers. That is not Nigeria's problem now and would only bring about further disunity, corrupt administrators and waste of Naija's resources. To get closer to the people, create more local governments!

Njoku Matthew: Each getting millions is all I see. People who are rich and supposed to be patriotic Nigerians representing the people without asking for anything are making more money in the name of National Conference. Poor farmers, petty traders, etc. should have been made delegates so that they could rise from grass to grace after collecting money.

Tosin Oyedele: The delegates have done their best. The thing is, their best may not be good enough to move Nigeria forward.

Ola Moore-Coker: A brilliant effort that will be thrown into trash by selfish politicians. It is good that efforts are made, but time and money wasted.

Stanley Kevin: They are just wasting our money, old people with old mentality.

Aladegbami Adebayo Olanrewaju: All these old men and women don't have anything to offer us anymore. We need to let these people know it is high time they started packing their belongings from Govt house and leave. They should allow the youths of this country to stand up for their rights, it is now our turn.

Ikechukwu Bonik: Waste of time and money because there are a lot of corrupt delegates among them. Some of them claim to be human right activists but give and take bribes. What do you expect from them?

Honest Isaac Kokoh: It marks the beginning of the end for Nigeria. If the South South cannot get 50% derivative and an additional state to the South East and then or regional autonomy, then Nigeria is not fit to stand. The part of Nigeria which is not bringing anything to the table is hell-bent on making sure the people who fund Nigeria are impoverished. The people of the South South are not stupid. Nigeria doesn't want to allow a South Southerner to preside over Nigeria but wants to feed fat from the wealth of the region. It won't happen. In few months from now, we will begin to see a clearer picture of the end of this unholy union.

Cletus Charles: They are wasting time. We have seen many panel setups in this country without anything to show in the end. This is not about the National Conference but rather about accepting and signing into law whatever they agree upon. My opinion: division of the country or resource control by state. There is too much money in Abuja, that’s why everybody is dying to get there.

Source: Legit.ng