Ledum Mitee, former President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and environmental activist on his part said: “In spite of all challenges, I still believe that we stand to gain more in being together. But I think it is the basis of that togetherness that needs to be negotiated and I think that is where the conversations should go to.

All over the world now, there is a shift from tiny nationhood to larger nationhood. In Europe now, they are almost turning Europe into a large federation and I think there is a lot to be gained by being together.

“But what many people have questions about including me is the question of the basis of the unity. And I think the structure of our unity has been faulty from day one. The whole reason we opted for federation has been our diversity. Now what is the diversity? The diversity is that there is the Urhobo there, there is the Ogoni here, there is the Yoruba, there is Hausa Fulani, there is Igbo, there is Efik, etc.

“So when we now have federating units, a different configuration comes in because people now want to get more from the centre. We have commoditized the nation into what you now call the national cake. So because of that, those who are together share themselves into different components. Where you now have for example, what is the diversity between Kano and Katsina, or Imo and Abia, or Oyo and Osun.

But the people in Ogoni see themselves as different to the person in Edo, as the Igbo feel themselves different from the Yorubas.  So because of that fault, and I call it a fault, the foundation of our unity has always been shaking because it was based on fault. So a negotiation in which the people that make up Nigeria sit down to talk on the basis of that unity is what is called for.”

Breaking Nigeria is not in anybody’s interest —Oloyede
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, a professor of Islamic Studies, hails fromAbeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. The former vice a chancellorof University of Ilorin is currently the secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and secretary, Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, NAREC.

He too opposed dismembering of the country. “My candid opinion is that Nigeria should not break. Under no circumstance should anybody think that it is in his or her interest that Nigeria should break. I think we need to learn a lesson from Sudan. When the older Sudan thought that it was just a matter of Southern Sudan and Sudan, now I think they know better. Whatever problem we have, it is better for us to resolve that problem. It is not in the interest of anybody and it would not be in the interest of anybody or corporate Nigeria to have a divided Nigeria.

It signals not only danger for Nigeria but also for the entire African continent because there can be no division that can be as peaceful as you have in Sudan.

Nigeria cannot be compartmentalised into segments and that would definitely lead to revolt and create problem for us. My opinion is we should be sincere and address our problems in such a way that we can have a real federation. A real federation where we don’t need to be one, but also we don’t need to be divided so that we are going to have our diversity within a corporate Nigeria.”