This speech is dedicated to the Nigerian masses, whose pains, sorrows and hardships

were occasioned by government neglect. Your plight has necessitated by continued

campaign and struggle for good governance. To you I pledge my loyalty.

Great Sons and Daughters of Edo,

Other Distinguished Guests.

I am humbled to be invited, to come and speak in your Edo Global Organizational

Annual Conference in Barcelona, Spain. Please permit me to express my gratitude to

the organizers of this event, for considering me worthy, to be made a speaker in

this special gathering. When I realized that I will be speaking at the same event

with John (Prof) Ebohon, I immediately sent him a text message, asking for his

permission to accept the offer to speak. The reason for my action is simple. John

(Prof) Ebohon is a man I consider as my father, and he also consider me as his son.

I consider myself too young to speak at the same forum with him, hence my request

for his permission. As a father he obliged my request. Unfortunately for John (Prof)

Ebohon, his mother passed away on 28th May 2010. May her soul and other departed

souls rest in peace.

Let me start my speech by referring us to the few words written on the Nigeria’s

coat of arms; Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. From these few words, our

founding fathers realized the importance of preserving unity, in our multi ethnic

society. Ironically, our “rulers” have intentionally or unintentionally used various

policy instruments, to sow seeds of disunity in Nigeria, hence the numerous threats

to our unity and our democracy. They (our rulers) simply uses the divide and rule

methods. On our part, Nigerians also have their own share of the blames.

Regrettably, time and space will not permit me here, to list all the government

actions and inactions which have disunited us. But I will mention few and discuss

them briefly.

Post Civil War Policy of Awarding 20 Pounds To All Igbo People/Abandoned Properties

Saga.     

While the Gowon’s government declared no victor, no vanquish policy and launched his

3Rs (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation), his administration also

implemented the policy of awarding every Igbo person, 20 pounds, in exchange for any

amount of money the Igbo person(s) had in the bank. What this policy did was to

seize all the money that Igbo people had, and in return pay them only 20 pounds.

This was implemented immediately after the war ended. One can only imagine the pains

and hardships this would have caused the Igbo people, after suffering economic and

food blockades during the war. Nigerians should ask Gowon, what this policy was

meant to achieve, unity or disunity? Integration or disintegration? Lets remember

the issue of abandoned properties in Port Harcourt where the government failed to

act. Please note; the above is not intended to reopen the wounds of the war.

Federal Character/Quota System.

Personally, I think this is the worst constitutional provision any country can have

in their statute books. Federal Character principle was adopted during the 1977

constitutional Drafting Committee and it became part of the 1979 constitution. The

federal character principle was established to solve the problems of (a) “inequality

and marginalization” as expressed by certain part of Nigeria, (b) because of

differences in the socio-economic development of different parts of Nigeria, (c)

because of disparities in the levels of educational developments in different parts

of the country. But since its adoption, the question of merit and competitiveness

among Nigerians, have been replaced with quota system. The system (federal

character/quota system), chooses mediocre in place of merit.

This policy does not support equal opportunities. I am yet to see a multi ethnic

country that has similar policy. America is a multi ethnic country, established on

the foundation of liberty, freedom, equality, human rights, and democracy. Quoting

the former President of United States, late John F. Kennedy, “Let every nation know,

whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet

any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success

of liberty”. Because America is a free a society, the emergence of Barack Obama as

the United States President became possible.

The European Union is multi ethnic, with freedom, equal opportunities, human rights

and democracy as its basic principles. Quota system gave rise to zoning formula

being used by the ruling party (PDP) in Nigeria. Zoning formula gave rise to the

emergence of Obasanjo and late Yar’adua. (I will leave you to judge how far this

zoning formula has united or disunited us, and whether it’s sustaining or

threatening our democracy).

Resource Control.

Many of us do not agree with the resource control formula being used by the federal

government. All the regions producing mineral resources should retain 50% and remit

50% to the federal government. The present formula used by the federal government is

retrogressive and a serious source of conflicts, particularly in the Niger Delta.

Let’s remember that our government hanged Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995 for issues relating

to resource control and environmental pollution by oil companies. Any further crises

in the Niger Delta will not only be a threat to our unity, but also to the

international oil prices. Japan has no mineral resources but only human resources.

Today Japan is a united country, with strong economic and political foundations.

Religious Crises.

In 2009, the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Afakriya

Gadazama, revealed publicly that information about numerous religious crises (Boko

Haram, Jos crises etc) and other crimes such as kidnappings in Niger Delta, armed

robberies in South East was passed to the appropriate quarters. However, actions

were never taken to prevent these crises. In conformity with the above statement was

the fact that, the father-in-law to Boko Haram’s sect leader (Mohammed Yusuf), had

before the crisis alerted the Borno State governor of Mr. Yusuf’s activities, but

actions were never taken.

Let us remember that, the primary responsibility of every government is security and

welfare of its people. To show his insensitivity to the security and safety of

Nigerians, late President Yar’Adua embarked on a two day state visit to Brazil, the

day Boko Haram crisis started. In July 2009, the Chinese President (Hu Jintao) left

the G8 Summit in Rome Italy back to China, the moment riots broke out in Northwest

part of China.

Electoral Frauds.

Perhaps, this is among the greatest source of disunity and instability in Nigeria.

Our chief electoral fraud officers are usually the government and her agencies,

example Independent (Dependent) National Electoral Commission (INEC). Obasanjo’s

government conducted the worst election in the history of Nigeria. In Edo State, it

took the present governor (Adams Oshiomhole) 18 months or so to reclaim his mandate

to govern. We saw the mess in Anambra State. A sitting governor (Dr Ngige, ex

governor of Anambra State) was even abducted. Joy Emordi from Anambra North

Senatorial District, remained at the Nigerian Senate (upper legislative chamber)

till May 2010 with a stolen mandate. June 12th 1993 presidential election was

annulled by the then head of state (Babangida). June 12 saga almost destroyed the

unity of Nigeria. Many people were killed during the June 12th 1993 protest in

Nigeria. In Algeria, the cancellation of election in 1992 led to war that

 claimed over 150,000 lives.

Genocide (Odi and Zaki Biam Massacre).

No amount of provocation can justify government’s (Nigerian Armed Forces) massacre

in Zaki Biam, Odi, Ogoni communities etc. Am doubtful how relatives of innocent

people killed in Odi, Zaki Biam, Ogoni, etc will embrace the issue of Nigeria’s

unity.

Corruption.

“The World Bank estimates the country’s generals and gangster politicians stole $300

billion in the three decades to 2006”(Time Magazine, May 3rd 2010 Edition, Page 42).

Over 80% of corrupt cases emanate(s) from top government offices/officials.

Corruption has simply set the quest for the scramble and partition of the national

cake. No one is interested to bake the national cake. The level of corruption in

Nigeria will continue to pose a serious threat to our unity and democracy.

The lists of our government’s atrocities are endless. These confirm my main

argument, which is that, our government has been the greatest source(s) of disunity

in Nigeria. Unfortunately Nigerians have offered little or no resistance to our

government actions and inactions. However, to reverse the trend (preserve unity and

sustain democracy) will be a very difficult task.

Preserving Unity and Sustaining Democracy.

There are prices to pay in order to preserve our unity. But we will have higher

prices to pay for disunity. Remember, the reason federal government did every thing

to stop Biafra from seceding was to maintain the “unity” of Nigeria. In the Biafran

war, over 1 million people died. Sudan, Congo DRC, Somalia, Rwanda, Angola, former

Yugoslavia etc are examples of countries where there were, or are still serious

issues of disunity. United we stand, divide we fall. A house divided among itself

cannot stand. Democracy itself cannot flourish in a disunited country. I have the

following suggestions.

Apology/Compensation.

As a matter of necessity, the federal government must apologize to Nigerians for her

past evil deeds, and also pay adequate compensation for all the wrongs done to

Nigerians. The Australian government under Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) apologized to

the Aborigines for, laws and policies of previous administrations that inflicted

pains, grief, and sufferings on them. The British government under Gordon Brown also

apologized for child migrants sent abroad by previous governments before him. A

government of true national unity should be constituted. Genuine and transparent

reconciliation processes should be commenced.

Shadow Sovereign National Conference.

Various ethnic groups, NGO’s, CSO,s and pro Nigerian groups in Nigeria need not wait

for government, but rather should convoke a shadow sovereign national conference.

The Nigerian people should decide how to be governed. The people must also produce

the constitution of how they should live in unity. True federalism or confederal

system is preferable.  Unity should not be at the detriment of any tribe, region or

state. In addition, I suggest a coalition of all the groups mentioned above to

strengthen the opposition parties in order to safeguard and sustain our democracy.

Every democracy needs a strong opposition to function properly. Shadow

government/cabinet will be a fantastic idea and it has my highest recommendations.

Electoral Activism.

Leadership means a lot to a society like us, and we have seen how our past rulers

have sowed the seeds of disunity amongst us. Therefore it makes sense for us all to

participate in the process of election to avoid electing the wrong people. To that

extent, I suggest we vote the right candidates, guide our votes, monitor elections

and make sure our vote counts. Let us ask questions/do proper investigation before

voting any candidate. Let us ask political aspirants/parties to make public a list

of requirements, set by the Save Nigeria Group (UK) Branch.

Awareness Campaign.

The Holy Bible said in Hosea 4 verse 6 that, “My people are destroyed from lack of

knowledge”. Therefore, various cultural, community, states, regional, ethnic and pro

Nigerian groups should commence awareness programmes/political evangelism to educate

our less educated folks. We need to propagate voter education, opposition/civil

resistance to bad governance/policy. We also need to educate our people to realize

the dangers of disunity. Knowledge is power, let share knowledge and empower each

other. As we do the above, may God continue to bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta.

An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK

akutachinedu@yahoo.com

http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/

June 12-By Chinedu V. Akuta-