Ken Ugbechie

In those days, in the times of old, dialogue was the weapon that won freedom for nations and peoples. In those days, in the times of old, discourses, interchange of ideas, conversations and negotiations were deployed by communities, clans and nations to achieve a sense of equity, justice and fairness for all and to all. Right from medieval days to these times, communities of people have relied on dialogues to negotiate their future and the essence of their existence.

Rewind to America over 200 years ago shortly after winning the war that got America independence from a more sophisticated Great Britain at that time, George Washington rallied the American people to sit down and talk and chart a new path for the rebirth of a new America. That conversation between America and Americans laid the foundation for the birthing of ‘One Nation under God’ which is what the American Union is today. Ever since, America has never ceased to hold conversation with itself. Whether it’s through congress or referendum, the American example of active engagement through discourses remains a pristine example to copy. The Bill of Rights, the end of slavery, the renaissance that produced equity and equal opportunities for all Americans, including putting a Barack Obama, a black man, in the White House, are all products of active engagement.

Indeed, any nation or people or family that ceases to have a conversation is dead being mute. This is the sense in which President Goodluck Jonathan’s idea to convoke a national conference makes a meaning. The President has gone a step further to set up a committee that would fashion out the modalities for the national conversation. Strangely, some persons are furiously opposed to a national dialogue. They point to the timing of the dialogue and the seeming lack of sincerity on the part of the president as reasons for their disapproval. They have the right to hold their respective opinion. On that count, and only on that count, they can be excused.

But if national interest is to be considered above political sentiments and other primordial persuasions, Nigeria needs a conversation. Nigerians need to come together and talk. People are hurting. Everywhere you turn, there is cry of marginalization. There is a hovering halo of inequity over the national landscape. Nigeria is a country of self-contrived incongruities, paradoxes, contradiction in terms and ironies. There is the overriding need for a national conversation. There are many questions begging for answers.

After 53 years of independence, why would power reside in one part of the country for 37 years and they still want more; why would a candidate from Zamfara State score 50 marks in JAMB and he is offered admission into a federal university whereas his counterpart from Delta State who scored 200 marks is denied admission by the same university on account of quota. We need to talk. We need to agree if as a people we should sacrifice merit for quota; we need to discuss and agree whether we should apply federal character only when it serves the need of a particular section of the country.

Nigerians must have a conversation on how they want to be governed. Should the nation go the Presidential system or parliamentary system of government? What is the fate of the unvoiced minorities in the country? Should the majority be allowed to continue to emasculate them? Who really is a Nigerian vis-a-vis matters of state of origin? Can a man from Osun State who has lived all his life in Kano including paying tax to the state government claim to be from Kano State hence fit to contest any election in Kano State? What about such niggling issues of indigeneship and fiscal federalism. Should the states be allowed to truly function as federating units in its pure sense including controlling the resources therefrom?

Surely and frankly, Nigeria needs a conversation? The people must address the matter of nationhood? Is Nigeria a federation of the order of the United States? If so, why are the federating units, the states, not allowed to exist discretely with their own courts including Supreme courts and their own laws on some issues and even have control of their respective resources?

This country is hurting. The people are pained, some are completely forsaken. Such persons need a forum to ventilate, to pour out their grievances. Nigeria must talk to Nigeria. And there is no better time to do so than now. Those who oppose national dialogue for whatever reason are merely politicking with a sticky matter and should be roundly ignored. A child thoroughly beaten and abused by an elder should at least be allowed to cry. Some Nigerians have been abused, cheated and maltreated in a country they call their own, not on account of crimes they committed, but on account of what part of the country they come from, or whose child they are or what religion they practise. Such Nigerians should at least be allowed to cry. The National Conference is a fitting soapbox for the tearful, so let them cry. Let’s have a conversation.