Nigerians at home and in Diaspora have been
calling and agitating for a National Conference in order to brainstorm on issues threatening the unity and wellbeing of the country.
To this end, the Federal Government of Nigeria nominated and set up a 13-man advisory committee headed by Senator Femi Okurounmu.  A four point terms of reference was also given to them which includes:
To consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed National Dialogue/conference.
To make recommendations to government, structure and modalities for the proposed National Dialogue/conference.
To make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the National Dialogue/conference will be determined.
To advise on a timeframe for the National Dialogue/conference.
The Committee was believed to have completed and delivered their assignment as instructed.
In view of this, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has inaugurated a 492 delegates led by Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi for the National Conference in order to pursue goals bordering on forms of government, structures of government, devolution of powers, revenue sharing, resource control, State and Local Government creation, State policing, boundary adjustment, fiscal federalism, indegenship, gender equality and Children’s Rights amongst others.
Delivering his inaugural speech, President Jonathan said that the National Conference would be an important avenue through which the voices of people should be heard pointing out that Nigerians have yearnings and aspirations or desires that needed to be discussed at the conference, and urged participants to table their thoughts and positions on such issues and make recommendations that would advance the unity of the country.
The conference, according to President Jonathan would compliment the effort of both the executive and National Assembly in marching towards a greater and stronger union for the country Nigeria, adding that the conference would not usurp the functions of the legislature.
He however, begged the delegates to jettison the poisonous mind-sets of the past, built on unhealthy competition among diverse groups and people and urged them to have a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions saying:
“Yesterday’s prejudices should die with yesterday.  Today is a new day.      This is the dawn of a new era.  This is an opportunity to think anew”
The conference which kick-started on Monday 17 March, 2014 with its inauguration at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja is expected to gulp not less than N7 billion.  Out of this sum, each delegate would be paid a total sum of N12 million for the 3 months, the conference is expected to last.  That is, to say that each would receive N4 million per month for accommodation, transportation and part of their feeding since they were to have free lunch at the venue of the conference.
As some Nigerians began to raise alarm over the “waste of fund” on the conference, some of the delegates like Pastor Tunde Bakare and Barr. Olisa Agbakoba to mention but a few, declared that they were not after the money but on how to resolve issues of national interest threatening the well-being and unity of  the  country.
Many good talks and speeches have come and gone but what do we stand to gain in this conference?  Is it not amazing to hear that some delegates were asking the Federal government to pay their aides?  The said delegates claim that the N12m was meant for them and not their aides and were even asking for the number of aides to come with for the conference, arguing that aides to members of the National Assembly participating in the conference are being paid by the Federal government.
We have a long way to go ooh.  Thank god for people like Hon. Ita Giwa who were able to recall that the present situation in the country emanated from past leaders who are also delegates to the conference.  Can we then think or believe that these delegates otherwise known as 494 wise men will deliver us from the issues and challenges facing this country?  Your answer can be “yes or No” but wait for a while, do not be in a haste to answer that simple but technical question.
It should be noted that most of the delegates were old time politicians who have served this country in one capacity or the other.  We have Prof.  Jerry Gana of the Almighty Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation Agency, the later being his baby, Senator Ken Nnamani former Senate President and the almighty Dr. Peter Odili former Governor of Rivers State amongst others; who are supposedly good materials for the conference but permit me to ask one question, can we talk about their individual leaderships and conducts before now?  The good, the bad and the ugly? Can a Chamelion be constant with its colour? Can a leopard change its skin? This conference will tell.
Oragwa is of the Federal Information Centre, Port Harcourt.
In my thinking, the President of the Federation has done his beat by obeying the voices of Nigerians to constitute a National Conference which is also democratic. Butb come to think of it, what will an 80 year old man give Nigerians in this conference?  Because the moment one is above 60, senile dementia sets in therefore, age has so many things to do with the issue at hand.  For Christ sake, we have able bodied men capable of doing and saying something meaningful to the problem of this country, who should have been appointed as delegates.  Not people that would go for their stomach and selfish interest or desire.  Well, the inauguration is already done.
Recently, some groups like the Ogba land have disassociated themselves from the conference as a result of insufficient or lack of representation.
Some Nigerians are talking about true Federalism while some are talking about a parliamentary system of governance but which ever of the two, it can not be a solution to our problem until, we come to realize that if we need to be one Nigeria then, there is every need to kill ethnicity, tribalism, religion and other things that put us apart and stop pursuing shadows.
As long as the data and information demanded at the National, State or Local Government Levels contain State and Local government of origin, religion and their likes, Nigeria will continue to be in dichotomy.

The South is accusing the North of believing that the leadership of this country lies with them and that they are using resources from the south for their benefits while the North is accusing the South of hijacking the economy of the country.  Nobody trusts each other, for example, immediately President Goodluck came on board, the Islamist insurgency which was already in existence though at a kitchen level, suddenly developed wings and came up in full force.  Up till date nobody can give us concrete information about it neither has any of the sponsors being brought to book yet, some known personalities had sworn to make Goodluck’s administration ungovernable, while the Islamic insurgents in the North recently rejoiced that Professors, businessmen from the South would soon run leaving their sandals behind for them to inherit their booty.  Are the sponsors of this group stronger than this country and are they above the law? That the law cannot catch up with them?
I expect delegates to the conference to be selfless in this service to the nation and use this opportunity to call for a whole-some constitutional amendments, find effective way of cushioning ignorance among Nigerians through public enlightenment that is not biased as well as finding a way for each to make sacrifice since participation comes at a cost while our mentality to self should also be deliberated on in order to create a new dawn as Mr. President rightly said.
I want to say that the Ministry of Information at both federal and state levels have all it takes to go into the rural areas for the purposes of education and enlightenment of the masses, if the platform is set for such works to be properly executed.  The major assignment for all Nigerians and non Nigerians in this country is to ask this one outstanding question, what does it take for us to dwell together in unity? Are we able to remove these shadows that put us apart? Are we able to do it?
If  I am allowed to suggest, I think there is need to call for a referendum to enable us decide whether we actually want to still be together or not in order to avoid forcing people who are already disintegrated to be fighting at the conference for nothing, looking for a lasting solution that would never be.  Even though Mr. President has said disintegration of the country is a no go area but you and I know it is the only good and best thing that would happen in a country that does not believe one another.
Ukrain is about to, Sudan did, why would not Nigerians quietly and in good faith do same without shedding more innocent blood.  At least the 100 years of amalgamation has been full of blood shed without trust and many groups rising from different regions for religious or ethnic jingoism and victimization.  Please let us call “a spade a spade and not a garden spoon”.  How long can we continue in this pretence, called “One Nigeria” when we know that we are not.  May God help this country called NIGERIA!!

Oragwa Lovenda O.
For:  Head of Centre,
Port Harcourt.

Lovenda  Oragwa