The campaign for a sovereign national conference (SNC) has again moved to the very top of public debate and discourse in the country. The agitation which gained prominence during the military era in the 80s and 90s somehow lost its impetus after the restoration of democracy in 1999.
Regrettably, our experience with democracy has been so sad that many well meaning Nigerians are beginning to question its worth.
There could be no greater evidence of this loss of faith than the renewed campaign for a sovereign conference when there is a President and a National Assembly in place, exercising full sovereign powers on behalf of the Nigerian people. The failure of both the state and federal governments to address the fundamental issues of economic development, poverty and, worse still, the failure to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians is largely what has given rise to the climbing concerns, anger and renewed calls for SNC.
In the forefront of this renewed campaign is the Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka who uses every of his public appearances, and media interviews these days to argue a case for the conference. This is, of course, healthy for the growth of democracy. Every citizen should have the right to express their opinion without fear.
Surprisingly, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) whose members have always argued against such a conference recently came out to say that it supported one. Expectedly, President Goodluck Jonathan, while responding to such a call from a delegation of South-South and South-west political leaders that paid a courtesy call on him recently, argued that he was not in support of an SNC because there cannot be two sovereigns in one nation. He argued that the current constitutional arrangements give enough room through the executive, legislative and judicial arms for addressing all pressing national issues - even those of a constitutional nature. Besides, he said the presidential constitution review panel he raised recently, led by retired Chief Justice Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore, was expected to consider those matters that the SNC exponents want addressed.
The President's position brings to light one of the inherent contradictions in the calls for a sovereign national conference. If we convoke such a conference and give it such powers that it becomes superior to all the structures and institutions recognized by the current Constitution, who will then be held responsible for running the machinery of government? This is the big question.
Many who oppose the idea of such a conference are of the opinion that holding it will create a situation of anarchy that will certainly put the nation on the slippery road to disintegration. A similar conference held in neighbouring Republic of Benin led to a series of events that almost culminated in a civil war in that country. What is the guarantee that, given our volatile circumstances, a sovereign national conference will not create a worse scenario here?
We are particularly disturbed that the South-west, which produced the last but one President and the South-south which is holding the presidency now, all feel that the current constitutional provisions do not guarantee the right environment for the resolution of our national problems. We are equally disturbed that the President who must have received a briefing on what issues were to be discussed at his meeting with these leaders still gave them the platform to raise an issue that is bound to generate tension and national discord.
We share the fears of those who argue that a sovereign national conference may lead to a break-up of this country. Our fear is based on the fact that those who are proposing this scheme do not appear to have the answers to the various legal, administrative and security problems the country will face when such a conference becomes a reality. It will be a great disservice to those who shed their blood in the past for this country to remain one if we allow some dim witted advocates lead us down the road of anarchy and war.
If, on the other hand, the conference is not to be sovereign, which means its decisions are subject to endorsement by the incumbent authorities, then of what use will it be and what will those gathered at the conference be discussing that are not being discussed now at various fora and in the media? Is the idea simply to get Nigerians to sit down and talk and vent out their feelings? What will be the limits and powers of such a conference? And what will be the criteria and basis for choosing those to attend the conference: ethnicity, region, religion, state or what?
These are just some of the many issues and questions that must be settled and answered before convening of any kind of conference which, as a forum that will enable Nigerians to talk openly about the concerns and fears that engender tensions in the polity, is not a bad idea.
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