Recently I wrote on the topic “2015: what the opposition is doing for GEJ” in it I enumerated and explained how some political actions of leading opposition figures, meant to undermined GEJ were actually working for him.
Again, the opposition’s reaction to the president’s announcement of the government decision to organize a national conference has not deviated from this same method. Especially with the comments created Asiwaju Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), a party that has been touted as capable of possibly taking power from the PDP at the center come 2015 (although the party has shown no seriousness towards achieving that)
Why addressing supporter at one of the Executive Jet Hanger at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja and in direct reaction to GEJ’s announcement of a planned National dialogue, Mr. Tinubu said ”why is the conference coming at just about 15 months to the next general election, when will it hold? Why so sudden? I see a contradiction and diversion,”
He added that ”National conference is by whom, for whom, and at what stage? How many level of deception? These people (the federal government) are not even smart in public deception. I see a contradiction. I see diversion. I see deception, lack of honesty and integrity”; but like the president noted in his independence day broadcast, Tinubu admitted that “at no time had Nigeria in its 53 years of independence been divided as it was now”
The curious question therefore is when will national conference be more needful than a period of intense division? And what is sudden about a government deciding now to pursue what many Nigerians have been agitating for since independence? And that is for the past 53yrs.
An attempt at answering the above questions only reveals the level of greed and desperation in our political leaders whose stock in trade is extreme criticism. A weapon they are never careful to deploy pursue their selfish political interest.
Interestingly the same Asiwaju Tinubu had in 2011 insisted that a sovereign national conference is what is needed to stabilize Nigeria for growth and development.
He made this clear in 2011 while Speaking At the first Anthony Enahoro memorial lecture Asiwaju Tinuba had said “I submit to you today that because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak.
“Unless we move to strengthen it through dialogue and equity, we will remain a nation in mere words.” (The 2011 publication included bellow)
“Unless we move to strengthen it through dialogue and equity, we will remain a nation in mere words.” (The 2011 publication included bellow)
So what has changed between 2011 and 2015? The simple answer is the coming general elections. The election nexus becomes clearer when one viewed it against some trivial analysis being made by some media fortunate analysts. For instance how do comprehend such statement as “the national dialogue is a ploy by the government to postponed the 2015 elections” this is not only trivial but elementary and also diabolical.
One wonders how people could concoct anything to bias Nigerians mind against even such desirable thing as national conference. The Truth is no matter the level of opposition the current Nigeria’s structure gives any ruling party/government the power to continually hang on to power as long as they wish either rightly through free elections or wrongly by manipulating constitutional loop hole to rig elections.
Has anyone asked why is it possible that the party in power in any state automatically controls all the local government in that state even with elections, it is the system. That same system makes it impossible for a sitting president to lose elections, except such president does not contest.
Meanwhile this system that encouraged and protect the few ruling class against the vast majority of Nigerians is what the nation conference seeks to change and replace. Yet some selfish individuals are concocting every fathomable lies to deny Nigerians this opportunity that many have died for since independence.
As a people we must wake up to the responsibility to both pressurize and encourage the government to deliver on the national conference, and also mobilize competent individuals to represent our various constituencies at the National dialogue/conference. The current Nigeria’s structure must be replaced because it was not design for progress and development
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu call for sovereign national conference
By Osagie Otabor 25/11/2011
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said only a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) would save the weakening pillars of Nigeria as a federal entity.
He spoke at the first Anthony Enahoro Memorial Lecture at the Benin Club, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday.
Represented by Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs Funmi Olayinka, Tinubu said: “I submit to you today that because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak.
“Unless we move to strengthen it through dialogue and equity, we will remain a nation in mere words.”
The ACN leader said fixing the national pillar would entail a robust people-driven debate, insisting that any artificial tinkering of the present constitution would fall short.
He said: “The 21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues (PCROCI) recently set up by President Goodluck Jonathan falls short.
“It is a backdoor approach to the issue of national conference. In memory of Chief Enahoro we must convoke a national conference. It would provide a platform to address our pressing concerns.”
He said it was ironic that Nigeria once a product of dialogue at independence now has leaders who avoid robust dialogue state policy. But he stated that free and unfettered dialogue holds the key to Nigeria’s rebirth.
“The people ought to be consulted on the issue of subsidy. We ought to have a referendum on the question, not only of oil subsidy but also on sovereign wealth fund as well as the proposed one-term of seven years proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.
Tinubu said federalism as a development paradigm for a multi-national country was no mere labelling, adding that it assures both economic and political fairness.
“Our economic system is supposed to be open and fair. But it is even more slanted and biased than the political system,” he told the audience. “We do not operate a free and fair merit-based economy. We operate a feudal economy, where those in power decide by the whim of the moment who becomes rich and who stays poor.”
He regretted, however, that the military’s over-centralisation had arrested growth and stunted development.
“This has not only stalled development, it has affected recurrent and capital expenditure.
“This fuels corruption at the centre and makes the system a mockery of development.
“It gives a winner-takes-all quality to the presidential election. This is wrong. That is why progressives have been calling for fiscal federalism,” Tinubu said
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said only a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) would save the weakening pillars of Nigeria as a federal entity.
He spoke at the first Anthony Enahoro Memorial Lecture at the Benin Club, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday.
Represented by Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs Funmi Olayinka, Tinubu said: “I submit to you today that because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak.
“Unless we move to strengthen it through dialogue and equity, we will remain a nation in mere words.”
The ACN leader said fixing the national pillar would entail a robust people-driven debate, insisting that any artificial tinkering of the present constitution would fall short.
He said: “The 21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues (PCROCI) recently set up by President Goodluck Jonathan falls short.
“It is a backdoor approach to the issue of national conference. In memory of Chief Enahoro we must convoke a national conference. It would provide a platform to address our pressing concerns.”
He said it was ironic that Nigeria once a product of dialogue at independence now has leaders who avoid robust dialogue state policy. But he stated that free and unfettered dialogue holds the key to Nigeria’s rebirth.
“The people ought to be consulted on the issue of subsidy. We ought to have a referendum on the question, not only of oil subsidy but also on sovereign wealth fund as well as the proposed one-term of seven years proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.
Tinubu said federalism as a development paradigm for a multi-national country was no mere labelling, adding that it assures both economic and political fairness.
“Our economic system is supposed to be open and fair. But it is even more slanted and biased than the political system,” he told the audience. “We do not operate a free and fair merit-based economy. We operate a feudal economy, where those in power decide by the whim of the moment who becomes rich and who stays poor.”
He regretted, however, that the military’s over-centralisation had arrested growth and stunted development.
“This has not only stalled development, it has affected recurrent and capital expenditure.
“This fuels corruption at the centre and makes the system a mockery of development.
“It gives a winner-takes-all quality to the presidential election. This is wrong. That is why progressives have been calling for fiscal federalism,” Tinubu said
