BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
LAGOS — Governor Mua’zu Aliyu of Niger State, yesterday, disagreed with those canvassing a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, to restructure the country and reposition it for national development.

Delivering a lecture on “Governance, Social Conflict and the Imperatives of Communal Harmony” organised by the Business Hallmark newspaper, in Lagos, Aliyu, who admitted that the country was operating a faulty federalism, said some people were afraid of SNC because it had been made to look like an avenue to divide the country.

Aliyu was supported by the likes of erudite scholar, Prof. Anya O. Anya, who chaired the lecture; Dr. Chidi Amuta and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Zakari Mohammed, who said the country could not have two sovereignties though they agreed that there was need for Nigerians to dialogue.

Specifically, Anya said most of those pushing for SNC were past leaders, who played crucial roles in pushing the country into the abyss.

However, National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and media icon, Mr Sam Omatseye, said there was need for Nigerians to talk, adding that sovereignty had to do with the outcome of the decisions of the conference and not the government.

According to them, “the conference could be called any name but the outcome must not be tinkered by government committees as had been witnessed in the past. Once the decisions sail through a referendum, it should become law.”

This came as Adebanjo tackled Aliyu over his clamour for sharing of 13 per cent oil derivation to poorer and non-oil producing states.

Said Aliyu: “Nigerians in the North Eastern part of this country, over 2000 kilometres from the oil producing areas, should have equitable stake in the oil resources of this nation, since the resources belong to the federation of Nigeria, in the same manner that the resources from the agriculture sector were used by past administrations for the development of critical infrastructure in many parts of the country including the oil exploration.”

Opposing the governor, Adebanjo said he was disappointed with Aliyu’s stance on sharing of derivation, adding:  “I am not from the South-South but I believe in strong derivation for the South-South. If you look at the terrain of the South-South, how much can you give them to develop the place? In those days of the regions, the regions enjoyed 50 per cent derivation. Now, there is oil in South-South why stop derivation. You can’t get justice like that.”

Dignitaries at the event included Dr Tola Adeniyi, Sir Mac Wabara, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Prof TAG Ogunbiyi, Prof Mohammed Yahaya and Hajia Fati Abubakar.