By Dele Sobowale

“The $20 billion stolen from NNPC will not stop us from reclaiming Government House after what Akpabio did to us.” Ibibio politician.

Call it calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it; or what you like. But, the Ibibios, who constitute more than sixty five per cent of Akwa Ibom State, have regrouped under former Governor Victor Attah and they have jettisoned zoning. The next governor of Akwa Ibom State will be an Ibibio. Part of the reason for their change of mind on zoning is contained in the allegations quoted above.

They believe they have been relegated to second class citizenship by the Anang governor and they will not soon again concede the ticket to any other ethnic group. They also want to ensure that Akpabio does not even get the Senate seat he desperately wants. In that regard they have the support of the Oron nation who will hold Akpabio responsible for their predicament.  Jonathan and Muazu have a stake in this; they will ignore the Ibibios at their own perils. You don’t believe me? Then read the following.

IS THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE DOOMED BEFORE IT STARTS?

“I feel the strong temptation to plunge into political controversy, but …a politician must be the man of a party. I would fain to be the man of my whole country.” John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848.

I also prefer to be a man of my whole country; free to think and say what I believe is true without regard to which political party it favours. Truth and partisan politics are mutually exclusive; I have learnt.  For years, I have stayed out of partisan politics. That did not mean that I did not have political beliefs. In fact, I am an unrepentant progressive; meaning that I lean towards the left pole of the political spectrum. But, by and large, I have embraced the principle of non-partisan independence.

If I agree or disagree with a politician or a political party and its members, it is a mere coincidence. That explains why, with all the criticisms of President Jonathan, his political party, PDP, as well as some of his appointees, I embraced the idea of National Conference with both arms. But, then the modalities were still unknown at the time.

My reasons for supporting the idea were based on hope and faith. I had hope that, after years of mounting despair about the defects in our 1999 Constitution and the disenchantment of several ethnic nationalities, as well as virtually, all sections of the country, we might, at last, start to make the amendments which will move us towards a more just society.

My faith rested in the belief that President Jonathan, despite his enormous faults, means well for Nigeria this time around and like Adams, who was a President of the United States, would say to himself, “that I may never be governed in my public conduct by any consideration other than that of my duty.” It is too early to determine whether my faith in Jonathan was misplaced. I pray not.

My faith was strengthened by a peculiar bias of mine, which must be disclosed upfront. The selection of Senator (Dr) Okurounmu as Chairman of the Committee to undertake the spadework for the National Conference, was, for me a plus. Okurounmu, was an ASPAU Scholar, so was I; he was in NADECO to which I was a sympathizer and I regard him as a principled individual sent out on a difficult, and perhaps, thankless task. It was not surprising to me that he did not satisfy everybody and those dissatisfied had made sure he felt the sharp edges of their tongues and pens. I want to thank him immensely for not disappointing me. Nobody can produce a perfect document.

Then modalities were announced by the Federal Government. That was when the fears started to gain the upper-hand over my faith. I am still not sure that Jonathan has approved the modalities presented by Okurounmu and co; but, it is likely that he had amended them somewhat. By the time the selection process was announced, it was clear, to me at least, that we might have started on the road to hell – which, as usual, is always paved with good intentions.

Because this column could easily have been titled ANOTHER ADVENTURE IN PROPHECY, and it would still have been appropriate, let me quickly mention my first and deepest fear. We might not even get off the ground floor – the National Conference might break up within the first few days over the determination of certain groups to visit areas, such as secession, which the government had declared a No-Go area…..Then what?

POSER: Professor Bolaji Akinyemi is on the Amnesty Committee which has not been disbanded — while BokoHaram gets more violent. He has now been appointed as Vice Chairman of National Conference which has three months to perform another miracle. Does that make sense?

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