Editor: Yesterday I posted an article on the much touted Sovereign National Conference. While taking it from the point of the fact that most people clamouring for one are doing so for selfish reasons, Professor George a renowned globally recognised Economist of Ghanaian origin below offers the best argument for one that shows a better and clearer path to one. If those who clamour for SNC in Nigeria would come out as Professor has done below, we might begin to appreciate the arguments for a Sovereign National Conference.
PROFESSOR AYITTEY SPEAKS ON SNC IN NIGERIA
Straight Talk to my Nigerian Brethren. When a crisis erupts in traditional Africa, the chief convenes a village meeting, puts the issue before the people to debate until a consensus is reached. Once reached, all, including the chief must abide by it. In 1990, this institution was modernized into a “sovereign national conference” (SNC) and used to democratize and resolve issues in many African countries. It began in Benin in 1990 and ended in South Africa (1991). Benin’s nine-day “sovereign national conference” began on 19 February 1990, with 488 delegates, representing various political, religious, trade union, and other groups encompassing the broad spectrum of Beninois society. South Africa employed the same vehicle – Convention for a Democratic South Africa or CODESA – in July 1991, with 228 delegates drawn from about 25 political parties and various anti-apartheid groups. It culminated in the election of Nelson Mandela in March 1994 – a two-year transition period.
Decisions taken by SNC are “sovereign,” meaning they are binding on all, including the head of state and cannot be abrogated by anyone, unlike the 1995 Constitutional conference, whose decisions were subject to the approval by the late General Sani Abacha – “The Butcher of Abuja.”
No need for elections; groups chose their own delegates. The political elite did not dominate SNCs in Benin, Cape Verde, South Africa or Zambia. Civic and interest groups such as teachers, students, farmers, etc. were represented. The operating ruling principle was CONSENSUS.
The SNC is the vehicle for Nigerians to take back their country. The SNC could set up an interim administration; a commission to re-write the 1999 Constitution to re-define Nigeria; sack the Police Chief, the Chief Justice and State Governors; clean up the administrative structure to ensure provision of basic social services like electricity, clean water, health care, etc; disband the military or cut it in half (the military has caused most of Nigeria’s problems); cut the salaries of MPs who take home a cool $2 million in salary and emoluments each; set up an anti-corruption commission with teeth; ease ethnic and religious tensions in the country, etc. etc. How long it takes is immaterial; it took Benin 9 days, South Africa 3 months.
You can’t leave Nigeria’s problems to the political elite l they won’t solve them. And Nigerians cannot run away from their problems. The influx of Nigerians into neighboring countries has reached a breaking point and creating disaffection among locals in host counries. Most West Africans would like to see Nigerians solve their own problems so that they can stay in their own country. Cameroon is reeling from a huge influx of Nigerians as Ghana does too. In fact, Ghana also has to contend with refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. All West Africans dread the possibility of a violent break-up of Nigeria. The population of Ghana, for example, is 25 million; the country cannot absorb an influx of 30 million Nigerian refugees in the event of a break-up.
A break-up of Nigeria will NOT be supported by any West African country; nor the rest of Africa. And if the political elite won’t solve the country’s problems, a sovereign national conference is the only alternative left. Follow the Benin’s model (next door) or South Africa’s. South Africa did not break up and descend into racial war because of SNC. This is straight talk.
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With respect to the professor, this entire article appears to be based on the premise that a break-up is imminent and can only be stopped by an SNC. I do not think this is the belief of many Nigerians.
Great ananlysis by prof. Ayittey. It sure would make a way forward. However, I don’t think a group of elders that openly sidelined women and youth is sincere.
I dnt expect anything positive from this group where a convener tells ppl to wait for their time. SNC isn’t about telling a particular set of ppl, women or youth, to wait for a time that may never come but making d best use of now (time).
True talk coming from the gentleman, professor Ayittey. I Just? hope that majority of Nigerians actually understand wha†? is at stake if we don’t solve our problems soon. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live Nigeria, the giant of Africa..
A very straight and candid way to put SNC…..but am afraid he left out very important factor….THE NIGERIAN FACTOR…..most of the people are going to be there are going to be a past or present problem of nigeria…but if we can do it without allowing the political elites from hijacking it….then we shall succeed
Leave us alone. Go solve your own prblms in your country. How dare you assume our country is on the verge of a breakup? You spk with little or no knwldge of the dynamics of our nation.
Are you suggesting we jettison our constitution? How will delegates be elected/selected? Do you knw there are over 500 tribes and dialects in Nigeria? Do you knw there are more tribes in kaduna state than the entire south east and south south? Will you give that state more representation than an entire zone. Pls stop playing into the hand of neocolonialist who are planning to plunge our nation and the entire west african subregion into war!
The prof said it all. SNC would be a panacea for Nigeria’s problems only if there is sincerity on the part of it’s proponents. However, a cursory look reveals that the promoters of SNC are alluding to the break up of the country along ethno-religious line that is why the call for SNC will fail.
SNC did not bring a Nigerian minority tribe as a President, GOOD GOVERNANCE through good leadership is all we need and not SNC!
We do need SNC to govern Nigeria! All we need is good governance! The current President emerged through the support of all Nigerians and a viable will emerge through honest and focused leadership.
Well,we can give SNC a chance but it must be strictly guided to avoid anarchy before reaching consensus.
Good piece 4rm prof ayittey, I still maintain my support for SNC as a tool of strengthening national unity rather than break up. But on another note does @omojuwa need an outsider to tell him the truth concerning ur country b4 u accept it, we all accuse our leaders of pandering to dictates of imf and other neo-colonialist organisation, but this ur excerpts looks similar to dat. While I agree with u dat a good number of proponents of SNC might av selfish agenda, but don’t u think a good number of opponents to might av a selfish reason for opposing it? Wole soyinka to my knowledge has neva contested for any post neither does he seek political power, but he is one of d earliest champion I know of, ben nwabueze @80+ is not contesting anymore. No doubt some elements will av ulterior motives but that’s where d youths comes in, I still insist dat a great proportion of composition of SNC should be under 50yrs old nigerians, elders can put in there ideas and proposals but young nigerians have greater stake in nigeria,a typical lagos ibo guy doesn’t feel out of place when dealing with a yoruba guy or hausa, vice versa, omojuwa can canvass for dis too, let young nigerians decide, though with a caveat NO BREAK UP. Any elderly person dats want his view shd do so tru a youth, at d time Gowon,obj,ibb,buhari and d likes ruled nigeria, those guys were young men. Gowon was able with his comrades hold nigeria together tru civil war at barely age 32. So let’s canvass this position just like d occupy nigeria movement. Immunity clause,federalism, salaries and compensation for political office holders,d idea of separating religion/state laws, appropriate punishment for graft, issue of federal character(similar to civil rights of disadvantaged blacks/minorites in d US). If we place our hopes on NASS, we are kidding, they won’t do it cos it profits dem now, but a good way to start is to assure all parties NO DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA. You ur reach to educate people around on d merits of talking.
There is no deny fact that this country is on the verge of break up.if any one thinks otherwise,he/she can’t simply read between the lines.How do u explain the deteriorating state of Nation,when the government is not ready for such talks (SNC)guess this is where we all need to spring in to action and make government realize the danger looming on the country
Nigeria has no resemblance to any of the countries mentioned by the prof. We fought civil war thereby ensuring the oneness of the nation. The blood of soldiers, women and children shall never be in vain. The problem here is corruption and only corruption. Just as the removal of subsidy was aimed at concealing atrocities in the oil sector, SNC is easiest way out for those men and women who created our predicament. Given the impunity of our leaders, the same corrupt folk and their cronies will end up as the most powerful delegates to the SNC.
Good and patriotic Analysis from prof, I got my inspiration from impeccable spirit of patriotism and nationalism that I think is expected of a young intellectual who always ponder about the way out of the social, economic and political crises of Nigeria; it is sad and disheartening to realise that the country I love so much Nigeria is always becoming very weak resulting from the massive plundering of the economy,nepotism,tribalism,political hatred,increased poverty by the very tiny minority class of elites,harsh socio-political climates that ushered the Administration,lack of accountability and transparency,human right violation,Nigeria in recent times has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity. Inter-communal and inter-ethnic clashes, religious violence,armed robbery,assassination,ritual killing,murder,gender-based violence,bomb explosion and Niger delta crisis have been on the increase leading to enormous loss of life and property and a general atmosphere of sirge and social tension for the people, so professor sir, you have done your sincerely as a patriotic africa, in justice is our problem in Nigeria to some extent I believe snc is the only peaceful way to resolved our differences for now.
I strongly agree with the prof,it is long overdued and we are suffering for unjust cause. Our leaders are afraid of their past but i think a truth and reconciliation commission should be incorporated into this . We are only postponing the evil days if we don’t sit down and discuss the geographical expression called nigeria now. Our collective efforts is needed at this critical times to create a fiscal federation we deserved
We want firebrgade approach. An SNC is needed but not before a genuine mass movement. Otherwise the thieving elite would simply hijack the project and we would be back to square one.
The issue of nigeria is completely pathetic and would never makesense any longer coz everybody realised wats happening in e country.As stated earlier by a lot of pple,we have no problem but dat of corruption and corruption only. Most of our so called elites re after wats going in 2 eir pockets as well as Nass. So all e crisis cameout as a result of corruption.
@Ion my position on Ayittey has nothing to do with pandering. He offers a far better argument than all the Nigerian advocates put together. If you read my piece I asked some questions and his piece at least answered some of those. This piece of his is a direct response to my article from yesterday. No one knows it all that is the essence of arguments and discussions. That Ayittey has offered a position and annswers to some of my questions makes it easier for me to relate with his position than that of those just shouting SNC without talking about objectives, processes and all
Omojuwa I don’t agree with the write up. Is there any assurance dat d boko haram attacks will stop while D SNC is ongoing…when u hav sacked d IG nd cut d army by half would that not only allow d forces of evil take ova while we are yet discussing………..SNC can not give us back our country but 20millionyouths can……..let’s concentrate on making d 20millionyouths initiative work and leave d SNC alone its an idea of our elders who have failed us in d past d 20millionyouths initiative is an idea of youths and is capable of retrieving our nation from d renegade elders who have held us hostage!!!!
Thanks Prof Ayittey for this honest article. The old men who did not invite all and sundry as someone complained, have to start from somewhere. The actual SNC will have all voices. Truth is, the present looting anf raping cannot continue for ever. The earlier we address it, the better for all of us.
Imagine a natural calamity the magnitude of Haiti in Abuja just at the beginning of rains this year, then we will not need SNC anymore cos the quake woul have claimed Aso Rock Nass and the Police and Army HQs including the supreme court.
Put quite succintly you cannot be a judge in your own case. Does anyone need to remind the NASS that the document they operate today is a military Decree 4 of 1999?
Take it or leave it they will quit the stage when there is no more to steal and the law of diminishing returns take central stage.
Collectively we can make this union work better by shelving hypocrisy and embracing dignity as free people.
Badru wrote from Kuje FCT
@japh/omojuwa thanks 4 d clarification. I do av a suggestion for u,if its possible do a serialize piece on benefits of SNC and juxtapose it with d dangers,and countries that have had issues similar to ours, then ask people on dis site/blogosphere to vote on it. It will give a better idea of peoples understanding of d matter, cos some folks just think its only aim is to break up nigeria, hence they will oppose it till hereafter. Also if possible kindly ask nigerian youths to submit proposals on how we want our country governed and what we like to see in our dream country. With such tools and d platform of #occupynigeria everyone is given a fair representation and it will form a document/tool to bargain with d ruling class, I know it will take a great deal of time but with grassroots mobilization,6months of continuous concensus building across nigeria with utmost good faith, I believe people will buy into d idea. But one thing dats is sure is dat dis NASS won’t remove immunity,GEJ will cherry pick @belgore panel recommendations and status quo continues. Take a look @badrus comment, he is praying for a natural disaster to wipe dem out, an evidence of his helplessness/hopelessness,not know dat innocent folks will also be buried alongside the cabals. If we don’t talk now, view dis scenario, someone 4rm d north will also want d “national cake”, people from will vigorously support whoever it is either nasir/Gmb/sambo/mark. People from d delta might say, no we want 8 full years like obj, ibos will also play up d marginalisation card dat they avnt been able to hold d knife to cut d cake too, d whole power play begins again, any side felt cheated out might resort to violence, for how long are we gonna continue with d charade. D obvious truth a similar scenario where ethnic/religious cards will serve as bargaining chips will happen again, yet we will av a below average leader. Also u would kno dat its much better to for a neutral person to make a laws to curb graft dan d people directly involved. Failure to seriously discuss all dis will eventually lead to a syria like type of situation!
Prof real your dont know what is NSC, what we need is nation building and our major challanges is corruption not NSC
The idea of SNC isn’t a bad one. It stands to reason that Nigeria cannot deal wth its problem altogether as corruption has become the heartbeat of everyone and every business. Really the professor has really suggested a possible way out of these trouble that malaign our dear country. It is so strange that after fifty years of independence, Nigeria is still fevered with what I call ‘a carnage of atrocities’, yet we were said to be a country that believes so much in religion. Why can’t we have the SNC and use that avenue to flush off the bad eggs among us and live in peace all together. We can solve these problems we are fevered wth. The time is now and the place it starts is where you are.
Well, a good proposal except for the pessimistic notion of Nigeria’s break-up. Corruption is our clog in the wheel of change.
Nigeria as at 1914, was amalgamated between the northern and southern protectorate. These protectorate was of different historical background. As a result of disagreement, a civil war came between Nigeria and Biafra, which was declared by late Chukwuemeka-Odumegwu Ojukwu as a result of injustice. After the war, Nigeria is yet to agree on one thing as every tribe feel cheated when not heading the sit of presidency. So we need to reach an agreement were every tribe shall be inclussive in one thing or the other. Or rather let practice confederal system of government, were every tribe shall be free and rule its region. Also, at the said SNC, Nigeria has to look into federal to know if it reflect with the current changes at hand. Furthermore i submit that the SNC be conducted to know were we are driving at. I wish all of us well as we embark in this journey.