NIGERIA, a nation of ethnic nationalities deserves a constitutional national conference as proposed by the late architect of Nigeria’s independence, a frontline nationalist, a dynamic leader, a man of unmistakable authenticity, our patriot , father, uncle. brother and friend, chief Anthony Eromonsele Enahoro.
My dear Nigerians, just because it sounds better and more appropriate to say we are one, does not make us one. We are one when it is convenient to do so.
What is the solution? Our unity must emerge out of our diversity. It is that simple. When regions like South North, East and West of Nigeria, send representatives and hold a dialogue, on which way, Nigeria, they will be forced to compete to bring its best out and invariably Nigeria will also become developed. What is the difference to Nigeria at present? The difference is that selish elites claim to represent the common man and exploit any form of national conference and leave the problem unsolved and the nation worse off than it was. We cannot continue this way forward for.
History shows the Portugese gave Lagos its name. The former british colonialists told us Youruba, Ibo and Hausa are the majoritiy tribe and all others are minorities. My late uncle Enahoro told us that when he fought for self governance, he did not have it mind to leave things as they are. They at least recognised that Nigeria is divided but it was for their ‘divide and rule so they can conquer’. Today, our aim is to give ethnic nationalities the opportunity to bring out the best of what they have by giving them power to solve the problems they know too well. Leaders must learn that those who put them in power hope for change that they never give them because they try to impose what they feel the people need on the people who voted for them, rather than ask the people what they want. Well this time, the people will have the opportunity under a well organized and realistic representation in the ethnic national conference, to give their people what they want. It is pure common sense that those who represent their people honestly must seek their interest. The Leader we have today have been predominantly selfish and self centered.
As his senior special assistant for Peace and Reconciliation, South South, we had several meetings in Movement for National Reformation (MNR) and PRONACO. We have been burdened and pained by the fact that Nigeria could be much better than it is today. Some Nigerians seem frightened by the truth that we are a nation of ethnic nationalities held together by the lip-service to unity.
For those who see ethnic nationalities as a way to sabotage others, I say not so fast. All the ethnic groups owe Nigeria is that all it has become up until now has been under the name Nigeria. A common police force, army and navy. Common, because if each region has its own forces, who is to say that it will not which hunt the other regions’ police? Regional guards to maintain law and order but all arms and ammunition belongs to Nigeria.
Let each ethnic group get economic empowerment from Nigeria to support it to grow. Let me use a simple analogy. Families make up communities and communities make up local government and local governments make up states and states make up the nations. This is the same way ethnic nationalities make up Nigeria.
Ethnic nationalities will be represented in governance which comprises able bodied men and women as well as those with physical challenges. Those with mental challenges will be represented by persons fit to act on their behalf. Each ethnic group must produce a list of representatives that represents everyone in their nationalities. State Assemblies will become regional Assemblies, State courts become regional courts, regional laws will be drafted, Only laws that do not put non-regional members at a disadvantage, when they enter other regions or choose to work in other regions will be enacted. Free movement of persons, goods and services within regions should be allowed if the regions where these goods and services will be bought and sold agree. Regions should be free to import and export goods and services outside Nigeria. They should have their own ministeries and ministers. Ethnic nationalities can remove a minister who fails to perform after 3 years in office. In all the offices and schools, men and women must govern. No school will have two female principals or male principals. They must be a man and a woman
The ethic nationalities must have more constitutional powers than their representatives. This is to make representatives know the honor and value of service. Service delivery is the goal. Budgets will be explained to the ethnic nationalities. Our leaders as they are today, are more powerful than the led. This is absolute nonsense.
Farming and solar technology and alternative medicine must have priority. Free education for ethnic nationalities.
To start off, money will be given by the federal government to regions.
Who will be the president of Nigeria? One elected by all the etnic nationalities. He or She needs the absolute majority of all the ethnic nationalities. Furthermore, the president and its vice cannot be both men or women. Either must be a female. This is fairness and it must be enshirned in the new Nigeria’s constitution.
The president’s job is solely to bring investors to each region based on what that region needs. Defend Nigeria externally Another mandate is to have companies like Siemens , Coca-cola and many more who have enjoyed and profited from Nigeria train Nigerians in IT, Bitcoin technology and Artificial intelligence and use part of their profit to develope ethnic nations.
All contracts signed with the chinese and others must be reviewed by all ethnic nationalities. On our currency, United Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria (TUENN) will be printed on it. Current currency name and donominations remains.
Financial houses are free to have banks where they choose unless it is targeted unfairness which is defined by the number of people in ethnic communities. Ethnic communities have the preference to set up their own banks. In other words, banks in ethnic communities, have to be approved by those ethnic communities.
Nigeria will now be called: The United Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria (TUENN). Dear people of Nigeria, there is nothing wrong in ethnic nationalities developing to its fullest potentials.
Issues to be debated at the Ethnic National Constitutional Conference commonly called a national dialogue will be to discuss the judges that will sit at the supreme court, to be made up of men and women in equal number and to be elected by regions, how criminals will be punished, Where oil and other mineral deposits are henceforth discovered will be for those communities- This again must be enshirned in the constitution.
Currently, electric cars are replacing petrol run cars in Germany and other developed nations. All the ethnic communities where the crude oil comes from have to be asked if they want to lend it to Nigeria for 99 years or if they want a certain amount monthly or if they want to let it be as it is for 5 years and take charge of it. This goes for oil only as this had impoverished its communities for decades because Nigeria benefited a great deal from it.
I do not have all the solutions, but having worked in many capacities, including as the national laison officer for women affairs under National Reformation Party (NRP) and later contesting for the House of Representatives, to represent Esan North East and Esan South East, under the leadership of chief Anthony Enahoro, I learned alot. It is not about sharing the national loot, it is about getting up and raising Nigeria as the most powerful country in Africa. We must stand up to be counted. As long as we remain this way, we cannot hold our own in the commity of nations. For progress to thrive we have to go back to our ethnic nations and start there.
I call on all who mean well for Nigeria to think about this reality.
