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Nat’l Conference: Nigerians Should Not Be Surprised By What Is Going On- Analyst

A member of a civil society group, Professionals for Change, Dr Tokunbo Adedeji on Monday expressed surprise that Nigerians are expecting a good outcome from … Continue reading Nat’l Conference: Nigerians Should Not Be Surprised By What Is Going On- Analyst


AdedejiA member of a civil society group, Professionals for Change, Dr Tokunbo Adedeji on Monday expressed surprise that Nigerians are expecting a good outcome from the National Conference.

He also noted that unless the “truth of our existence as a nation” is clearly defined the issues of “derivation, resource control and state creation will continue to come up again and again” adding that “until we sit ourselves at one place and ask ourselves what exactly we want for ourselves as a people or as a country” these issues will continue to bring about a division amongst us.

He berated the fact that the president put a no go area tag on the secession of ethnic groups from the country, maintaining that “people who would say let us come together will come with a bundle of reasons to convince the others” adding that “those who are saying we should stay apart will also come with a bundle of reasons to be able to talk to each other; but they are not doing that now.

“They are using issues to be able to get to that point; but those issues will always be there until we resolve the real issues, which is, do we want to stay together?”, he said.

Mr Adedeji, speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, also noted that “the members of the delegation from the south is that for over the years, the north had been in control of the federal resources because they have been in governance for that period of time.

“And therefore it is time for the people of the South South to be able to use their resources to develop their region after been neglected for so long”, he added.

He noted that before the advent of oil, regions in the country were using resources available within to develop.

He further noted that with the heated debates over resource control and derivation formula, it is evident that “people want to be able to determine their own future themselves” but are not saying so “because it is a no go area”.

Meanwhile, online reports says Akwa Ibom State delegates to the ongoing National Conference have warned of an imminent implosion in the Niger Delta if the move to adopt 18 per cent derivation for the region is scuttled by Northern delegates.

In a statement signed by former minister of lands, housing and urban development and delegate to the Conference, Nduese Essien, and head of the state secretariat, Udeme Nana, the delegates warned that nerves were already frayed in the region over the issue.

The delegates, therefore, warned that the growing agitation by ‎youth of the region may turn into a full-blown crisis unless the current derivation is reviewed upward.

“There is a strong possibility that the Niger Delta region could again snowball in an orgy of violence if the logjam on derivation principle at the ongoing National Conference is not resolved on the basis of justice and fair play,” the delegates warned.

The delegates also warned against attempts by those they describe as “political capitalists” to resurrect the onshore/offshore dichotomy, noting that the issue has further heightened tension in oil-bearing communities in the region.

The delegates noted that majority of those who are blocking moves to review the derivation formula are unaware how oil spills, gas flares and other activities of multinational oil firms have devastated oil-bearing communities.