The Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashraf Salama, speaks on how his home country is collaborating with his host nation to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the publicity secretary of Pan- Yoruba Socio- Cultural group, Afenifere, said: “I think the essence of federalism is that we design a system of government that should allow us to deal with our differences and live in harmony and peace. I can tell you that today, there are states in America that would have been at war permanently if not that America had developed a true federal system where each flower can blossom and each bird can fly without touching each other.

WHEN Saturday Vanguard engaged delegates at the on-going National Conference on the question of whether or not Nigeria should remain united on account of the unceasing bloodshed, their responses were diverse, interesting and thought-provoking. However, most of them are against the break-up of the country.

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.

SINCE 1953, exactly seven years before independence, which was consummated on October 1, 1960, Nigeria has been a haven for flurry of political and ethno-religious mayhem, which have claimed about 3.5million lives.