National Confab: A National Challenge

As President Goodluck Jonathan
inaugurates the National Dialogue
Conference later today, Nigerians will once again have the opportunity to determine the future of the country. Though the inherent challenge may be many and demanding, all patriots must contribute to its success because the alternative to dialogue is crisis.
Giving the wave of pessimism, even opposition of the convocation of the conference recently, the reality of today can only prove that there is the finger of God in this national project. This is also not a surprise because it is the right thing to do, especially when a greater number of Nigerians want it.
While we commend Nigerians for the courage for taking this path, though potentially risky, we think that the resolve of the Federal Government on this matter is most commendable. Indeed, when the people decide on a thing, especially on a worthy cause, no devil can stand in their way.
The Tide expects therefore that all the reservations against the conference be dropped in favour of its success. We expect also that all those who may have gone to court to frustrate the process and those who had held back their participation, even their delegation to the conference would support this national effort.
We have no doubt that everyone that had raised a word of caution on this matter may have done so in good faith. But democracy demands that the will of the majority be respected. Besides, that previous attempts yielded very little success does not mean that this one would also fail. For the records, if this one fails, all Nigerians are to blame.
We are glad that the support for the conference had grown beyond expectation. Ethnic groups and other interest representatives whose members are not accommodated must understand that the membership of the conference cannot be endless. Apart from the fact that the current membership covers every conceivable interests, even the civil societies, there still exists a window to pass across views through other delegates.
Perhaps, this point will be best appreciated when one realises that delegates to the conference are not essentially there for their petty sectional interest, especially where it conflicts with national interest. The delegates should understand the unique responsibility they carry: They must be seen to be true Nigerians on a rescue mission and not ethnic and sectional war lords.
The National Conference is a place of national consensus and not battle field for the different ethnic, religious and social groups. The intention for the conference must be clear in the minds of all. Indeed, the prayer of every Nigerian should be for the Creator to imprint on their hearts that it’s about Nigeria and generations unborn.
That Nigeria has gone through, and is still confronted with challenges is not strange, every nation goes through same. What will be strange is that a nation as blessed as Nigeria is not able to reason together and set the rules for her future progress. Certainly, not when the world presents a plethora of examples to chose from.
The Tide is not looking forward to the articulation of ideas for a new national consciousness and rules that would bring Nigeria at par with the First World of this age: Nigeria is uniquely different, and our delegates must be driven by divine instinct to evolve ideas that will fashion out a new national order and make Nigeria the envy of all.
The National Dialogue also presents an opportunity for all those who have found nearly everything wrong in Nigeria to contribute. It is easy and even cheap to criticise, especially with a view to pull down. The time to show ingenuity, patriotism and faith has come. Let no good thought, strategy and spirit be kept from the conference. Nigeria must become a place of pride.
Even as we do not have any reason to suspect that the government has an agenda for the conference or that it may be diverting attention, every Nigerian would need to see that nothing of that nature happens. For those who query the timing, the words of Nelson Mandela that says: “the time is always right to do right,” should be a guide.
For the delegates, this is a mission of no return. Not an era when people walk out because their demands are not immediately accommodated. The conference must go through all the issues presented and a review done to correct previous oversights than hurriedly walk out. This is a challenge we must leverage on.