SecuritySummit: Remarks by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Summit on National Security, Held at NAF Conference Center, Abuja.

SecuritySummit: Remarks by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Summit on National Security, Held at NAF Conference Center, Abuja.

PROTOCOLS.

 

1.         You are welcome to the Summit on National Security, a 2-Day dialogue convened as a matter of national urgency. We are here because, in the face of escalating threats to the peace and security of our dear country, it becomes necessary to put heads together, share ideas and map out strategies to see us out of the current predicament.

 

2.         The coming together of the Executive and Legislative arms of government for this discussion about security, is a pointer to the seriousness of the situation, and our determination to tackle the problem. The Summit is also unique, because never before have we had such an inclusive platform for appraising security-related matters in this country.

 

3.         If I may provide some background: it will be recalled that the Senate had, on 30^th of November 2017, inaugurated the Ad-Hoc Committee on Review of Security Infrastructure in the Country. This came about, because we were increasingly concerned at the spate of crises and insecurity in many parts of the country, and knew that we needed to do something about it. The Committee had a broad mandate; to look into the problem and prepare a report outlining a different approach for dealing with the issue.

 

4.         The spike in the bloodletting over the New Year period injected another note of urgency into the matter, and further served to augment the mandate of the Committee, whose members suspended their recess to conduct a fact-finding visit to Benue State, scene of one of the recent killings. From that visit on 12^th January 2018, the Committee had a report ready for the Senate upon resumption on 16^th January. It was on the back of that, that we passed the Resolution to organise this Summit - to review the entire security architecture of the country. I would like to thank the members of the Committee – Chaired by Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan - for their hard work and commitment to this national assignment, and the expedient manner in which they discharged their functions.

 

5.         The sharp increase in murderous violence, over and above the relatively manageable level of insecurity that has plagued our country for some time, jolted us out any last vestiges of complacency or denial. There can be no denying the horrific reality in many parts of our country today. People who should be neighbours are turning on one another and taking up arms. These attacks and reprisal attacks are an intolerable cycle of hell that must be broken. Killings, kidnappings, mayhem and general lawlessness cannot be the new normal. We must take this country back and restore order.

 

6.         To this end, the Summit brings together a wide spectrum of stakeholders including: political leaders; security policy makers; Governors – who are Chief Security Officers in their states; security and intelligence chiefs; key persons in the nation's security architecture; regional and socio-cultural groups; traditional rulers; civil society organisations (CSOs) and others with strong, persuasive insights into the problem.

 

7.   It was envisaged that the Summit would provide a platform for critically examining the problem of insecurity, to help collate views and ideas in aid of the search for solutions. It is most reassuring to see us all here – people together – coming together to come up with a national response to a grave problem confronting our nation.

 

8.         To the Executive, I say this: you cannot do it alone – and this is why we are all here to join efforts. It is all hands on deck. No one person, organisation or arm of government can single-handedly tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity. The Constitution makes it clear that the safety of lives and property of citizens is the responsibility of government. We in government must therefore do everything in our power to ensure that Nigerians are safe from harm, and their livelihoods and belongings protected.

 

9.         Permit me to observe that those who are in this room have the capacity to bring about a change in this situation, to end the violence and bring succour. We have the capacity. But, do we have the political will? I daresay political will is what is required; and it is my hope that we shall marshal it as a legitimate instrument against this problem. Indeed, there is no reason why that should not be the case. This is not a Summit to trade blames – in no way is this a blame game. Neither is it convened so that any person or entity can take credit. We just want solutions. Solutions only. That is all Nigerians require of us.

 

10.   Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is expected that at the end of our deliberations and submissions, we will have a more profound understanding of the nature of the crisis; as well as a realistic assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of our security assets. We should also have a more accurate assessment of challenges to the current disposition of the Nigerian state - through the level of preparedness of all its law and order agencies to security threats.

 

11.   Let me add that this Summit should help us achieve some consensus around what needs to be done, in the short term as well as in the long term, to bring comfort and relief to those affected, and assurances of security throughout the country.

 

12.   Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we would have failed in our responsibility if - by the end of this Summit – we didn't succeed in triggering higher levels of collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders, of a character that can be sustained and placed at the service of the nation. This spirit of collaboration and cooperation is, therefore, key.

 

13.   The Summit programme has been designed to allow full and unfettered discussion. All participants are therefore encouraged to be forthright in expressing their views, and show commitment to the need for solution. Let me reiterate that we are not here to indict anybody. This is not an indictment, it is not to lay blame or point fingers, and it is not to take credit for what goes well. This process is very much solutions-driven. In order for us to ameliorate the current difficulties, therefore, it is important that people speak frankly.

 

14.   In that vein, let me say to those who will make contributions during the sessions: please, do not be on the defensive. Nobody is on trial here. Let us make our submissions with openness, in good faith and with an attitude that is forward-looking. When all is said and done, this is a worthy exercise, for the good of Nigeria, and we should all strive to do our best, - and that work begins at this Summit.

 

15.   What our country needs at this time is leadership that will work to douse the flames and reduce tension in the land. It is essential that we lower the barriers in our actions and rhetoric, and refrain from playing politics with a crisis situation in which Nigerian lives are being lost, tragically and needlessly, on a regular basis.

 

16.   Let me extend our deepest gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his and the Executive's support towards the convening of this Summit. Appreciation also goes to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, for the cooperation that brought the entire 8^th National Assembly on board for this Summit.

 

17.   The kind of collaborative and joined-up working that should be an example to Nigerians, is already on display here; and it is hoped that we shall use this as a springboard for the success of this Summit, the outcome of which must be such as can feed into the search for a solution.

 

Thank you all.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

 

 

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

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Oluwole Onemola

Head of New Media Department, Office of the President of the Senate 

Senate New Wing, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

Tel: +2348104528608

NHIS workers protest reinstatement of Executive Secretary Yusuf

By voxnews

Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf [Photo: point News]

The worker's union of the National Health Insurance Scheme on Thursday staged a protest against the reinstatement of the suspended Executive Secretary of the scheme.

Scores of the union workers are currently staging a protest at the NHIS office in Utako, Abuja.

According to the workers, reinstating Mr. Yusuf at this time is contrary to fairness and equity.

"The man has a case in court. We are calling on president Muhammadu Buhari to revisit allegations against Mr. Yusuf and investigate this matter before reinstating him.

"EFCC is investigating him and president Buhari should allow the investigation before recalling him", the chairman association of senior civil servant NHIS chapter, Razaq Omomeji, said.

The workers called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the reinstatement.

President Buhari on Tuesday reinstated Mr. Yusuf exactly six months after he was suspended by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct.

A panel commissioned by the minister after Mr. Yusuf's suspension later found him culpable of infractions that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.

BEWARE OF FAKE LETTER CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

Dr Bode Olajumoke reacts to fake letter mishieveously attributed to him thus:-

"I have received numerous enquiries from well wishers regarding an article under my name attacking OBJ. This same article was received by me without a name to it, but at the end, it had a Balogun's Enlightenment Forum - I am not a member of this Forum. Reissuing the letter now under my name must be an act of mischief! The day the OBJ's letter to PMB came out on Liberal Platform, I fully endorsed its contents, so why would I have so soon conflicted my support by issuing the said letter in such an uncouth, raw, and abusive language? The writer is certainly a coward by inserting my name. OBJ and I might not be friends as such, but as a cultured yoruba man, I would not really use such gutter language on an elderly citizen!

It is possible that the mischief maker must have assumed that I might be eyeing a political post and hence the need therefore to defame me! 

Let me thank my friends and relations across the nation who have drawn my attention to this mischief and assure them that I am not the author of the post, and most importantly I am not a coward!

Senator Bode Olajumoke

THE TORCH VOL XXVI FROM THE DESK OF THE ENLIGHTENED WORKERS’ FORUM FAYOSE REWARDS HIS AGENT ON WAGE BILL PADDING WITH PERMANENT SECRETARY POST

The appointment of the last set of four Permanent Secretaries in Ekiti State witnessed the playing out of the old age which says 'scratch my back and I will scratch your own'.

For the first time in the history of Ekiti State, a grade level 14 officer was appointed as Permanent Secretary in flagrant disregard to the necessary criteria that qualify one for this esteemed position. This has created a serious confusion in the civil service and a cold war is currently brewing in the Accountant Cadre because this appointment has placed this officer over his numerous seniors.

Workers in the State had been wondering why the appointment of this particular officer should be a priority to Governor Fayose. This had indeed prompted this Forum to conduct a discreet investigation.

It is quite interesting to note that our investigation took us to the old issue of over inflated wage bill which we had written about in many of our past write-ups. This officer had been the trusted point man of Fayose in this regard. He is the one returning the excess fund between actual and the declared wage bill to the Governor in raw cash. He had secretly and committedly played this role since 2014 without leakage of information . so he had become a highly trusted agent and his appointment is indeed a pay back.

This development had vindicated our claim which we had echoed several times  that the State 's wage bill was in the neighbourhood of N1.8b because this officer had been returning on monthly basis a sum of N800million in raw cash. 

Ever before now, we had premised our conclusion on the fact that the present government claimed to be paying a wage bill of N2.6billion which was same with what the last administration paid. From this same amount, the latter serviced the followings:

Payment of salaries to over 600 political appointees;

N5,000 each to 20,000 aged people;

Salaries of 800 Peace Corps members;

Salaries of 425 Road Management Officers;

Salaries of 1,000 street sweepers;

Stipends of N10,000 each to 10,000 volunteers;

5,000 Youths in Commercial Agriculture earning N10,000 each;

Salaries of 150 Paramedics of the Fire Services;

Salaries of the sacked 180 workers of the State House of Assembly Service Commission;

N20,000 each to 60 casual workers of the Government House.

Apart from the fact that all these categories of salary earners were sacked right from the first day of the present administration, the government conducted a screening exercise as a result of which 500 ghost workers were said to have been discovered.

Besides, this Forum discovered that no fewer than 8,000 workers had retired from civil service between 2014 and 2017 because all those employed by the Government of Ajasin in the old Ondo State in 1980 and 1981 had been retiring since 2015. Yet the wage bill still remains at N2.6b.

We can now see that, Ekiti State has no justification to owe salaries, if Fayose had been honest. The allocations to the State would definitely have enough to handle the wage bill of  N1.8b now, from the 35 months salaries he had paid so far. Since the inception of his government, he had stolen N800m in 35 places amounting to N28b on salary alone. Here is a man pronouncing a ten-year ban on his predecessor over an unsubstantiated diversion of N2.7b.

This is criminal and it is wickedness carried out too far. Imagine the level of pains the innocent workers had been thrown into all these years as a result of this high profile stealing.

Certainly, this is the major reason he is hell bent on installing his surrogate as his successor because he needs somebody to help him cover up this dirty track record.

This, therefore, is a clarion call on the entire workers of Ekiti State and the people at large to say no to this continued bastardization of the civil service and pilfering of the allocations being accrued to the State. People are hereby enjoined to shine their eyes.

Mike Bamidele 

Coordinator, Enlightened Workers' Forum

26/1/2018

How I Stopped Kingibe, Abba Kyari, Rufai Abubakar From Stealing $44m-Former Acting D-G, NIA

Immediate past Acting Director-General (D-G) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Mohammed Dauda, has disclosed that he fought off attempts by Messrs. Babagana Kingibe, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and his protégé and incumbent D-G of the NIA, Mr. Rufai Abubakar, and Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari's Chief of Staff, to steal $44million NIA intervention fund.  The disclosure was made in a brief to the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

Mr. Dauda said he assumed office as Acting D-G on 6 November 2017, following a brief meeting with Mr. Kyari at the Presidential Villa. The Chief of Staff, he said, conveyed the President's directive to him that he should function in acting capacity while waiting for further directives.President Buhari with Chief of Staff Abba KyariBayo Omoboriowo / State House

On leaving the Presidential Villa, Mr. Dauda said he headed straight to have a meeting with Mr. Arab Yadam, who was D-G in acting capacity but was retiring. The meeting, he said, dwelt on what the retiring Acting D-G did in the seven months during which he ran the agency.   The briefing, said Mr. Dauda, comprised his administrative, operational and technical duties, all of which were highly confidential. Mr. Yadam also gave his successor the picture of the agency's financial position, which included $44million he informed was part of the intervention fund that brought the Ikoyi scandal.

After the briefing, Mr. Yadam introduced Mr. Dauda to Brigadier-General Mohammed Ja'afaru, the Acting Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), who briefed him on the nature of the agency's assignments. Among these are the daily operations of the accounts for both domestic and foreign management. The Acting DFA also told Mr. Dauda that the $44million in his custody, which was not part of the agency's budgetary allocation, should not be touched because it had become an exhibit in an ongoing case. The purpose of the disclosure, Mr. Dauda said, was for his information. 

Not long after Mr. Dauda assumed office, the Presidential Review Panel (PRP), headed by Mr. Kingibe, started its assignment in NIA. The agency provided the members office space, living accommodation, food and other logistics. Aside from Mr. Kingibe, other members include Mr. Albert K. Horsfall, a for D-G of the State Security Service; Mr. Olaniyi Oladeji, Mr. ZY Ibrahim and the current DG, NIA, Mr. Abubakar, who was PRP Secretary.

After the maiden meeting with the panel, said Mr. Dauda, Mr. Kingibe called him to advise that in his own interest, he should cooperate with them fully and avoid being close with the National Security Adviser. Mr. Kingibe also disclosed that they had presidential powers to overrule previous instructions or directives issued by the NSA.

"I was instructed to channel to channel all our activities, contacts, concerns and complaints through the Office of the Chief of Staff only," said Mr. Dauda.

He said the instructions left him in discomfort, as they contradict all the provisions of the agency's instruments. Not wanting to start on a confrontational note, he kept away from the NSA as instructed.

Things, he said, went on smoothly until Messrs. Kingibe and Abubakar kept pressuring him for money. Mr. Dauda said he explained that the agency's dollar account was low because of the difficulty in sourcing dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria, following the crises that arose from the Ikoyi money. However, the replied that the $44m in the custody of the Acting DFA belongs to the agency and that the DFA had no power to stop Mr. Dauda from spending the money. They added that since the crisis had blown over, Mr. Dauda should go and tell the Brigadier-General to return to his job. He was advised to write to the National Security Adviser to withdraw him or ask the NIA security department to stop him from entering the premises.

Mr. Dauda said the pressure was huge, but he felt if the Brigadier-General left, he might not be able to resist further pressure from the desperate gang.

"They kept insisting that they had the mandate of the President and that the President had directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hands off the money and that it was legitimately ours. They verbally queried me on the logic of keeping the money as an exhibit since there was no case pending in court. Ambassador Kingibe told me that he was the one who, through the Chief of Staff, drafted the memo that the President assented to, instructing the EFCC to hands off our case (Ikoyi Gate) just to convince me that there are no more encumbrances on the money," stated Mr. Dauda.

Still, no dice. He claimed that the kept pressuring and threatening that if he did not get rid of the Brigadier-General, he would have regrets. Mr. Dauda said he had no reason to get the man out and he actually enjoyed working with him. His refusal to do as they wished, he said, prompted Messrs. Kingibe and Abubakar to tell him at a meeting that he was refusing presidential orders to bar the Brigadier-General from the NIA premises. They warned him that there might be consequences if he remained adamant. At one of the meetings, explained Mr. Dauda, Mr. Horsfall advised him to ignore any suggestion that could cause confrontation between him and the NSA and advised his colleagues on the panel to put it as part of their recommendations to the President since they had his mandate, so he could order the NSA to remove the Acting DFA from NSA.                                  

The pressure on him for money, the former Acting D-G said, intensified.

"They wanted money for medical treatment or holidays abroad for their families and girlfriends. I met and gave a lady simply known to me as Angela from Ambassador Kingibe money twice at the car park of the Hilton Hotel. Once $50,000 and the second time $20,000, which apparently did not impress him...Even the current DG NIA once called me on whatsapp, just like Amb. Kingibe always does, and said that his Oga was traveling to London for medical check-up and he suggested that I should find something for him as a sign of good will. So, I reluctantly gave him $50,000 against my will, a decision that made me sad throughout the day," he said. He added that Mr. Kingibe collected over $200,000 from him during the time he headed the PRP. Mr. Dauda said he was always using the President's name to squeeze cash out of the NIA. They also undermined the Office of the National Security Adviser.

On 20 December 2017, said the former Acting DG, Mr. Kingibe asked the current DG NIA to tell him to meet them at home at 59 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, Abuja. He was asked to come alone. At the meeting, he was told of his refusal to cooperate with them and they had brought him there to warn that the Acting DFA was conspiring with some people to steal the money. He was warned that he would be held liable if he did not stop their plan.

"They told me that their Committee had completed their assignment and that their recommendations were so generous to the DG NIA. They said they recommended the appointment of two Deputy Directors-General and watered down their powers enough so that they will not be in a position to pose any threat to the DG," wrote Mr. Dauda.

They then suggested that it was his turn to do something in return as he was likely to get the President's nod as the substantive DG only if he could immediately make $2million available.

"I told them it was not going to be possible as the only money available was the $44million and I didn't know how to approach the Acting DFA. They also told me at the meeting that if I can't  sack the DFA, they would send someone to do it soon. That was my last communication with them until I heard of my removal from office on Wednesday 11 January on Channels Television around 8pm,' said Mr. Dauda.    

The next day, he advised the NSA to look at the possibility of evacuating the money from the NIA, an advice the NSA heeded. The money was moved and taken to the Office of the NSA.

Later that night, Mr. Dauda said he received a call from the Mr. Abubakar, who requested for a meeting with him and the staff who worked with him at 10pm.Mr. Abubakar said the meeting was ordered by Mr. Kyari. The meeting was eventually moved to the next day after Mr. Dauda protested that it was too late. At the meeting the next day, an enraged Mr. Abubakar said the Presidency blamed him for not taking over immediately thereby  giving room for the money to be taken away and warned that Mr. Dauda would be held responsible.

When he finished, Mr. Dauda said he told him no money was missing and that he approved the transfer so the money could be safe.

"I told him that if there was no ulterior motive, the apprehension was unfounded. I also warned him to mind his language as I have always been his senior in this service," Mr. Dauda stated.

He equally stated that his life is being threatened by the Kingibe gang and requested immediate protection for him and his family. Mr. Abubakar, he said, has already shown his hand with a letter requesting Mr. Dauda to return official vehicles in his possession. He has also received another letter restricting his movement on the claim that the agency was investigating leakage of sensitive information.

"These are acts meant to cow and intimidate me into submission and there are also attempts to bundle me out of my official quarters through extra-legal means and also to withdraw my security details, thereby impacting my security," he said.

He called on the House Committee not to allow the Kingibe gang to subvert the rule of law by bullying him into submission

PDP Governors, National Working Committee Dump Atiku, Throw Weight Behind Lamido's Presidential Ambition

By Voxnews 

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party's National Working Committee (NWC) on Sunday dumped former Vice President Abubakar Atiku who is warming up to run for President on the PDP platform in 2019.

A source at the closed-door meeting which commenced at about 7pm on Sunday and lasted about nine hours at the Delta state government house Executive chambers, confided in voxnews  that the PDP governors and the NWC collectively agreed to dump the former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and form alliance with former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido who they described as a true, steadfast and loyal party man.

PDP Governors and NWC members

"The PDP Governors and the NWC after several hours of deliberation collectively agreed to settle for former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido for his consistency since the party was founded. They viewed former Vice President Abubakar Atiku's moves as desperate and over ambitious. According to them, a true, faithful and loyal party man who has the interest of the party at heart will not turn into a political prostitute as the over-ambitious former Vice President Atiku has done." our source said.

In a six-page communique signed by PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus and the Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum Nigeria, Ayo Fayose read by Mr. Secondus, at the end of the closed-door meeting the Governors and the party's NWC, strongly condemned what they called the "unabated killings" across the country and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come out clean on the herdsmen killings and address the nation on how to end the carnage.

"The President must take responsibility on the protection of lives and property of Nigerians which is the most important of his responsibilities. We believe that the Federal Government's decision to set up a Committee to address the issues of herdsmen killings is a pretentious approach to a matter that requires firm action and leadership by the President in line with his oath of office to protect all Nigerians irrespective of creed, tribe and political affiliation.

"The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been the author of restructuring and this was further expressed in the Report of the 2014 National Conference. The All Progressive Congress (APC) as a later day convert of restructuring is merely paying lip service to a matter of national importance. However, we have mandated our members in the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of initiating a Bill to address issues bothering on restructuring. 

"We urge Mr. President to henceforth direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to adhere to the Rule of Law by obeying court judgements and orders such as the one involving the Ekiti State Government against EFCC and restrain itself from further political intimidation and harassment of known or perceived political opponents. We commend the judiciary for their commitment to the enthronement of constitutional democracy in the face of intimidation and harassment.

"We condemn in strong terms the massive corruption going on in the management of fuel subsidy regime which the Federal Government had declared non-existent while billions of Naira are being deducted monthly at Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings. The PDP states and local governments are vehemently opposed to the unilateral withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government under any guise. 

"We commend members of our party for their unalloyed support. We reiterate that our repositioned party is prepared for the 2019 elections and will ensure that all Nigerians aspiring to elective offices are free to contest on the platform of the PDP. We want to assure that no established organ of the party is allowed to align with any presidential aspirant. We thank the people and government of Delta State for playing host to this all-important meeting." the communiqué stated.

Journalists who kept night vigil waiting for the outcome of the meeting between the PDP Governors and the NWC, however, observed that the eleven governors have had a three hours close door meeting at governor Ifeanyi Okowa's lodge in the government house, Asaba where series of decisions had been  taken by the Governors' Forum before the commencement of the enlarged governors and party NWC closed-door meeting.

Earlier, before the closed-door meeting the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus who was addressing leaders, elders and members of the PDP at the Unity hall government house, Asaba, discredited former President Olusegun Obasanjo's newly formed Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM), saying it is dead on arrival, adding that the All Progressive Congress (APC) failure to provide good governance will be a yardstick for Nigerians to vote for candidates of the PDP in the 2019 general elections

IBB advises Buhari to forget 2019:

By

 voxnews

    

Former president Ibrahim Babangida has joined the league of the nation's elites to advise President Buhari on the state of the nation. In his press statement, IBB called on Nigerians to vote for alternative party saying Nigeria has turned to a blood theatre. Read the full text
THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT
TOWARDS A NATIONAL REBIRTH

In the past few months and weeks, I have played host to many concerned Nigerians who have continued to express legitimate and patriotic worry about the state of affairs in the country. Some of them have continued to agonize about the turn of events and expressly worried why we have not gotten our leadership compass right as a country with so much potential and opportunity for all. Some, out of frustration, have elected to interrogate the leadership question and wondered aloud why it has taken this long from independence till date to discover the right model on account of our peculiarities. At 57, we are still a nation in search of the right leadership to contend with the dynamics of a 21st century Nigeria.

Having been privileged to preside over this great country, interacted with all categories of persons, dissected all shades of opinions, understudied different ethnic groupings; I can rightfully conclude that our strength lies in our diversity. But exploring and exploiting that diversity as a huge potential has remained a hard nut to crack, not because we have not made efforts, but building a consensus on any national issue often has to go through the incinerator of those diverse ethnic configurations. Opinions in Nigeria are not limited to the borders of the political elite; in fact, every Nigerian no matter how young or old, has an opinion on any national issue. And it is the function of discerning leadership to understand these elemental undercurrents in the discharge of state responsibilities.

WHERE WE ARE

There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a major crossroads at this moment in its history; the choices we are going to make as a nation regarding the leadership question of this country and the vision for our political, economic and religious future will be largely determined by the nature or kind of change that we pursue, the kind of change that we need and the kind of change that we get. A lot depends on our roles both as followers and leaders in our political undertakings. As we proceed to find the right thesis that would resolve the leadership question, we must bear in mind a formula that could engender national development and the undiluted commitment of our leaders to a resurgence of the moral and ethical foundations that brought us to where we are as a pluralistic and multi-ethnic society.

Nigeria, before now, has been on the one hand our dear native land, where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood we stand, and on the other hand a nation that continues to struggle with itself and in every way stumbling and willful in its quest to become a modern state, starting from the first republic till date. With our huge investments in the African emancipation movements and the various contributions that were made by our leadership to extricate South Africa from colonial grip, Nigeria became the giant of Africa during that period. But having gone through leadership failures, we no longer possess the sobriety to claim that status. And we all are guilty.

We have experimented with Parliamentary and Presidential systems of government amid military interregnum at various times of our national history. We have made some progress, but not good enough to situate us on the pedestal we so desirously crave for. It is little wonder therefore that we need to deliberately provoke systems and models that will put paid to this recycling leadership experimentation to embrace new generational leadership evolution with the essential attributes of responsive, responsible and proactive leadership configuration to confront the several challenges that we presently face.

In 2019 and beyond, we should come to a national consensus that we need new breed leadership with requisite capacity to manage our diversities and jump-start a process of launching the country on the super highway of technology-driven leadership in line with the dynamics of modern governance. It is short of saying enough of this analogue system. Let's give way for digital leadership orientation with all the trappings of consultative, constructive, communicative, interactive and utility-driven approach where everyone has a role to play in the process of enthroning accountability and transparency in governance.

I am particularly enamored that Nigerians are becoming more and more conscious of their rights; and their ability to speak truth to power and interrogate those elected to represent them without fear of arrest and harassment. These are part of the ennobling principles of representative democracy. As citizens in a democracy, it is our civic responsibility to demand accountability and transparency. Our elected leaders owe us that simple but remarkable accountability creed. Whenever we criticize them, it is not that we do not like their guts; it is just that as stakeholders in the political economy of the country, we also carry certain responsibilities.

In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colourations. I get perplexed by their gory themes. From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue state to Rivers, from Edo state to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with cake of crimson. In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason. The pogrom in Benue state has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together. I am alarmed by the amount of blood-letting across the land. Nigeria is now being described as a land where blood flows like river, where tears have refused to dry up. Almost on a daily basis, we are both mourning and grieving, and often times left helpless by the sophistication of crimes. The Boko Haram challenge has remained unabated even though there has been commendable effort by government to maximally downgrade them. I will professionally advise that the battle be taken to the inner fortress of Sambisa Forest rather than responding to the insurgents' ambushes from time to time.

THINKING ALOUD

In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.

Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens' participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country. It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about "fighting" corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption. Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.

My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn't an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation. We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.

GROWING INSECURITY ON OUR HANDS

The unchecked activities of the herdsmen have continued to raise doubt on the capacity of this government to handle with dispatch, security concerns that continue to threaten our dear nation; suicide bombings, kidnappings, armed banditry, ethnic clashes and other divisive tendencies. We need to bring different actors to the roundtable. Government must generate platform to interact and dialogue on the issues with a view to finding permanent solutions to the crises. The festering nature of this crisis is an inelegant testimony to the sharp divisions and polarizations that exist across the country. For example, this is not the first time herdsmen engage in pastoral nomadism but the anger in the land is suggestive of the absence of mutual love and togetherness that once defined our nationality. We must collectively rise up to the occasion and do something urgently to arrest this drift. If left unchecked, it portends danger to our collective existence as one nation bound by common destiny; and may snowball into another internecine warfare that would not be good for nation-building.

We have to reorient the minds of the herdsmen or gun-men to embrace ranching as a new and modern way to herd cattle. We also need to expand the capacity of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Navy and Air Force to provide the necessary security for all. We need to catch up with modern sophistication in crime detection and crime fighting. Due to the peculiarity of our country, we must begin community policing to close the gaps that presently exist in our policing system. We cannot continue to use old methods and expect new results. We just have to constructively engage the people from time to time through platforms that would help them ventilate their opinions and viewpoints.

THE CHANGE MANTRA

When the ruling party campaigned with the change mantra, I had thought they would device new methods, provoke new initiatives and proffer new ways to addressing some of our developmental problems. By now, in line with her manifesto, one would have thought that the APC will give fillip to the idea of devolution of powers and tinker with processes that would strengthen and reform the various sectors of the economy. Like I did state in my previous statement late last year, devolution of power or restructuring is an idea whose time has come if we must be honest with ourselves. We need to critically address the issue and take informed positions based on the expectations of the people on how to make the union work better. Political parties should not exploit this as a decoy to woo voters because election time is here. We need to begin the process of restructuring both in the letter and spirit of it.

For example, I still cannot reconcile why my state government would not be allowed to fix the Minna-Suleja road, simply because it is called Federal Government road, or why state governments cannot run their own policing system to support the Federal Police. We are still experiencing huge infrastructural deficit across the country and one had thought the APC-led Federal Government would behave differently from their counterparts in previous administrations. I am hesitant to ask; where is the promised change?

LOOKING AHEAD

At this point of our national history, we must take some rather useful decisions that would lead to real development and promote peaceful co-existence among all the nationalities. We must be unanimous in what we desire for our country; new generation leadership, result-driven leadership, sound political foundation, demonetization of our politics, enhanced internal democracy, elimination of impunity in our politics, inclusiveness in decision-making, and promotion of citizens' participation in our democratic process. The search for that new breed leadership must start now as we prepare for 2019 election.

I get worried when politicians visit to inform me about their aspirations and what you hear in terms of budgetary allocations for electoral contest does not cover voters' education but very ridiculous sub-heads. A typical aspirant in Nigeria draws up budget to cover INEC, Police, Army and men and officers of the Civil Defense, instead of talking of voters' education, mobilization and sensitization. Even where benchmarks are set for electoral expenditure, monitoring and compliance are always difficult to adhere to. We truly need to reform the political system. And we must deliberately get fresh hands involved for improved participation.

We need new ways and new approaches in our political order. We need a national rebirth. We need a rebranded Nigeria and rebranded politics. It is not so much for the people, but for the institutions that are put in place to promote our political engagements. We must strengthen the one man one vote mantra. It is often ridiculous for me when people use smaller countries in our West Africa sub-region as handy references of how democracy should be. It beggars our giant of Africa status.

The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus. I pray the Almighty Allah grant us the gift of good life to witness that glorious dawn in 2019. Amen. I have not written an open letter to the President, I have just shared my thoughts with fellow compatriots on the need to enthrone younger blood into the mainstream of our political leadership starting from 2019

THE WAY FORWARD

. The American system of federal government, which we have adopted, offers a great lesson of how a people of different origins, religions, customary and culture can live together as a nation governed by a  written constitution. The federation of America was the coming together of existing states, which voluntarily yielded some of their powers to the union for the benefit of the generality of the union. An essential element of the federation is that the union had no power over the states in matters not specifically yielded by the states to the union. Between 1776 and September 17, 1787 when the completed constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 delegates, there were long and arduous debates and comparisons. The constitution was finally adopted on June 21, 1788. "We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, unsure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America."   From the foregoing, it is clear beyond doubt that Nigeria started the other way round; first the area now known as Nigeria consisted of over 400 nationalities. The British decided arbitrarily to call the area Nigeria. Originally, it was ruled as two countries, later as a unitary government, later again as three powerful regions and a weak centre and subsequently, the military fragmented it into unviable states and rules for over 30years as a federal government in name but in a unitary government defacto. As a young school teacher, Alhaji Sheu Shagari (who was to later emerge as the first Executive President (1979 – 83) had in 1948 written strongly against the amalgamation. Sir Ahamdu Bellow as quoted as saying that "amalgamation process" was a "mistake of 1914" in his book on "Nigeria" the German author Walter Schwarz had quoted Sir Ahmadu Bellow the Sarduna of Sokoto as saying, "I would rather be called Sultan of Sokoto than President of Nigeria". The sage, Chief Awolowo held in 1947 that Nigeria was just a geographical expression, should not have come as a surprise. Nigeria by that time had only been a state for about 34 years, in the annals of state building, it needs more than even a century to develop sense of statehood and to transform a state into nation.   In fact as at 7th century, England was made up of the Independent states of Cornwall, Kent, Wessex, Essex, Sussex, Mercia etc. the area later undergone forceful amalgamation. In the last 95 years, the map of Europe has been drawn and redrawn several times. The first major re-drawing was in 1918 after the First World War. It involved forceful mergers and forceful dissolution of about fifteen  states it was followed in 1945 by another re-drawing of the map which again led to the disappearance of some states. It was then followed in 1991 by another re-drawing of the map which led to the disappearance of the Soviet Union and Eastern Germany and the re-emergence of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc. Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia disappeared and emergence of Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Czech and Slovakia respectively. In other words within spate of 75 years Europe has witnessed not one but several massive nationality revolutions which Africa has not experienced since the Treaty of Berlin in 1884.   We have lived together in a country as Nigerians for almost one hundred years either by accident or otherwise. I believe that nobody in his right sense ought to call for the break up of the country. The situation can be likened to a marriage between two adults in which both parties are not comfortable with the association yet neither party wants it to break up because of the children they have raised. We also do not want the labour of our heroes past and present to be in vain, but only on one condition. The people's wishes should be allowed to be openly debated and adopted into their own constitution being the organic law that control and moderate socio-economic and political structures of the federation.   Our forefathers like their counterpart in United States foreseen all these and spent 10years deliberating on a people's constitution that would accommodate the nation's diversity. They came up with 1960 constitution which was later substituted with 1963 constitution. Under the 1963 constitution, the federal government was entitled to pay to each region a sum equal to fifty per cent of the proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The federal government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account 30percent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the federal government after it had given 50 percent to the producing region. The federal government was only entitled to keep to itself only 20 percent. It was the 30 percent left in the Distributable Pool Account that was shared in the following manner: Northern Nigeria - about 40 percent, Eastern Nigeria – about 31 percent, Western Nigeria – about 18 percent, Mid Western Nigerian – about 6 percent. The system of derivation therefore encouraged healthy competition and consequential growth of the economy. Each region was assured that it was entitled, as of right, to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool.   With the advent of the military, however, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded in preference for the military imposed "unitary system". The revenue allocation system was also destroyed and the military controlled all the resources of the federation centrally. What Gen. Gowon did as an exigency of war later become permanent. Subsequent governments after Gowon's decided to hold on to it, of course the federal government found allies in. lazy state governors who preferred to be going cap-in-hand to the federal government to collect the pittance tagged statutory allocations monthly.   The question then is whether it would still be reasonable to apply the 1963 formula where the derivative regions/states would keep about fifty percent of the entire nation's wealth, while it would not be reasonable in the light of today's reality, to give as much as 50 percent to the  states, it would be reasonable to give to the states sufficient percentage and other relief options to enable them take care of their environment. The communities should be empowered to exercise ownership of their land. The government should review the land use Act. Mining and exploration activities should involve the government, communities and the corporate organisations. Functions of government, oil companies or mining companies and the communities should be specified.   In 1994 federal government replaced sale tax which was administered (collected) by state governments. Initially, the state governments were made to believe that they would receive 80 percent of the VAT collected by the FG in their respective states with 20 percent accruing to the FG as cost of administration and collection. But FG quickly inverted this to be 80 percent to itself and 20 percent for the state governments, it was after much pressure that the FG agreed to revert the formula to 35-35-30 for the FG, SG and LG. Under most federations, VAT (a proxy for sale tax) is administered and collected by state or regional governments (sometimes municipal or local governments, where they have the machinery to do so). It must be reversed .   The first  ample opportunity to have a semblance of people's constitution was available during the constitution amendment debate during Obasanjo tenure . Because of a single item, tenure of office, the legislators out of selfish reasons throw away the opportunity, issues of fiscal federalism, devolution of power were slated among items for amendment. The trouble with some self-acclaimed leaders in this country is that a great deal of ignorance is traded as common sense. During the constitution amendment debate at the Senate floor, we saw the senators turned the hallowed chamber to theater hall and they became quack comedians – you hears such words: my people oh! my people says no to third term, what did their people say on other items slated for the amendment,we were not  told.   The historic problem in democratic practice is the minority or majority tyranny. It occurs in a democracy when majority fail to listen to the opinions of the minority or when minority refuse to listen to the opinion of majority, then democracy would give way to autocracy. Democracies naturally produce a certain disharmony what is required is not agreement, but agreement to act, that is, a common mind to follow a certain course of action while still admitting differences of opinion. We must listen to contrary arguments and allow reason to prevail. The South/South delegation made there position on fiscal federalism known at the floor of National conference. The North delegation err in opposing the brilliant presentation and being adamant that the 13 percent should not be reviewed upward. In 2000 the former Governor of Benue, Akume now Senator spoke on behalf of the 19 governors from the north after their meeting and opposed the establishment of Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC). We must effectively treat the causes rather than symptoms, we must recognise that as important as democracy is, however, defined, it can only deliver stability through social and economic justice. The world is full of multi-national states, which have been huge successes such as Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Britain etc and multi-national states, which have been woeful failures such as Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Those have been successful, have been successful because they practice true federalism, with full autonomy to federating units. Those who have failed, have failed because they have failed to practice true federalism. They have run federal states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it.   It looks to me that the greatest danger to Nigeria unity is the refusal of those who refuse to allow for the restructuring of Nigeria.   Shakespeare in one of his immortal plays gave this advice to young Hamlet: "This above all, to thy own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man". There is no Nigerian leader dead or alive who is not guilty of one of several acts of self-deception. It is an act of self-deception for anyone to argue that there is nothing wrong with the federal arrangement we have now.We must talk. Olufemi Aduwo President/CEO & Designate Official Representative   United Nations  of Centre for Convention on Democratic integrity Ltd/Gte .www.ccdiltd.org

THE WAY FORWARD

. The American system of federal government, which we have adopted, offers a great lesson of how a people of different origins, religions, customary and culture can live together as a nation governed by a  written constitution. The federation of America was the coming together of existing states, which voluntarily yielded some of their powers to the union for the benefit of the generality of the union. An essential element of the federation is that the union had no power over the states in matters not specifically yielded by the states to the union. Between 1776 and September 17, 1787 when the completed constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 delegates, there were long and arduous debates and comparisons. The constitution was finally adopted on June 21, 1788. "We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, unsure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America."   From the foregoing, it is clear beyond doubt that Nigeria started the other way round; first the area now known as Nigeria consisted of over 400 nationalities. The British decided arbitrarily to call the area Nigeria. Originally, it was ruled as two countries, later as a unitary government, later again as three powerful regions and a weak centre and subsequently, the military fragmented it into unviable states and rules for over 30years as a federal government in name but in a unitary government defacto. As a young school teacher, Alhaji Sheu Shagari (who was to later emerge as the first Executive President (1979 – 83) had in 1948 written strongly against the amalgamation. Sir Ahamdu Bellow as quoted as saying that "amalgamation process" was a "mistake of 1914" in his book on "Nigeria" the German author Walter Schwarz had quoted Sir Ahmadu Bellow the Sarduna of Sokoto as saying, "I would rather be called Sultan of Sokoto than President of Nigeria". The sage, Chief Awolowo held in 1947 that Nigeria was just a geographical expression, should not have come as a surprise. Nigeria by that time had only been a state for about 34 years, in the annals of state building, it needs more than even a century to develop sense of statehood and to transform a state into nation.   In fact as at 7th century, England was made up of the Independent states of Cornwall, Kent, Wessex, Essex, Sussex, Mercia etc. the area later undergone forceful amalgamation. In the last 95 years, the map of Europe has been drawn and redrawn several times. The first major re-drawing was in 1918 after the First World War. It involved forceful mergers and forceful dissolution of about fifteen  states it was followed in 1945 by another re-drawing of the map which again led to the disappearance of some states. It was then followed in 1991 by another re-drawing of the map which led to the disappearance of the Soviet Union and Eastern Germany and the re-emergence of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc. Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia disappeared and emergence of Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Czech and Slovakia respectively. In other words within spate of 75 years Europe has witnessed not one but several massive nationality revolutions which Africa has not experienced since the Treaty of Berlin in 1884.   We have lived together in a country as Nigerians for almost one hundred years either by accident or otherwise. I believe that nobody in his right sense ought to call for the break up of the country. The situation can be likened to a marriage between two adults in which both parties are not comfortable with the association yet neither party wants it to break up because of the children they have raised. We also do not want the labour of our heroes past and present to be in vain, but only on one condition. The people's wishes should be allowed to be openly debated and adopted into their own constitution being the organic law that control and moderate socio-economic and political structures of the federation.   Our forefathers like their counterpart in United States foreseen all these and spent 10years deliberating on a people's constitution that would accommodate the nation's diversity. They came up with 1960 constitution which was later substituted with 1963 constitution. Under the 1963 constitution, the federal government was entitled to pay to each region a sum equal to fifty per cent of the proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The federal government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account 30percent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the federal government after it had given 50 percent to the producing region. The federal government was only entitled to keep to itself only 20 percent. It was the 30 percent left in the Distributable Pool Account that was shared in the following manner: Northern Nigeria - about 40 percent, Eastern Nigeria – about 31 percent, Western Nigeria – about 18 percent, Mid Western Nigerian – about 6 percent. The system of derivation therefore encouraged healthy competition and consequential growth of the economy. Each region was assured that it was entitled, as of right, to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool.   With the advent of the military, however, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded in preference for the military imposed "unitary system". The revenue allocation system was also destroyed and the military controlled all the resources of the federation centrally. What Gen. Gowon did as an exigency of war later become permanent. Subsequent governments after Gowon's decided to hold on to it, of course the federal government found allies in. lazy state governors who preferred to be going cap-in-hand to the federal government to collect the pittance tagged statutory allocations monthly.   The question then is whether it would still be reasonable to apply the 1963 formula where the derivative regions/states would keep about fifty percent of the entire nation's wealth, while it would not be reasonable in the light of today's reality, to give as much as 50 percent to the  states, it would be reasonable to give to the states sufficient percentage and other relief options to enable them take care of their environment. The communities should be empowered to exercise ownership of their land. The government should review the land use Act. Mining and exploration activities should involve the government, communities and the corporate organisations. Functions of government, oil companies or mining companies and the communities should be specified.   In 1994 federal government replaced sale tax which was administered (collected) by state governments. Initially, the state governments were made to believe that they would receive 80 percent of the VAT collected by the FG in their respective states with 20 percent accruing to the FG as cost of administration and collection. But FG quickly inverted this to be 80 percent to itself and 20 percent for the state governments, it was after much pressure that the FG agreed to revert the formula to 35-35-30 for the FG, SG and LG. Under most federations, VAT (a proxy for sale tax) is administered and collected by state or regional governments (sometimes municipal or local governments, where they have the machinery to do so). It must be reversed .   The first  ample opportunity to have a semblance of people's constitution was available during the constitution amendment debate during Obasanjo tenure . Because of a single item, tenure of office, the legislators out of selfish reasons throw away the opportunity, issues of fiscal federalism, devolution of power were slated among items for amendment. The trouble with some self-acclaimed leaders in this country is that a great deal of ignorance is traded as common sense. During the constitution amendment debate at the Senate floor, we saw the senators turned the hallowed chamber to theater hall and they became quack comedians – you hears such words: my people oh! my people says no to third term, what did their people say on other items slated for the amendment,we were not  told.   The historic problem in democratic practice is the minority or majority tyranny. It occurs in a democracy when majority fail to listen to the opinions of the minority or when minority refuse to listen to the opinion of majority, then democracy would give way to autocracy. Democracies naturally produce a certain disharmony what is required is not agreement, but agreement to act, that is, a common mind to follow a certain course of action while still admitting differences of opinion. We must listen to contrary arguments and allow reason to prevail. The South/South delegation made there position on fiscal federalism known at the floor of National conference. The North delegation err in opposing the brilliant presentation and being adamant that the 13 percent should not be reviewed upward. In 2000 the former Governor of Benue, Akume now Senator spoke on behalf of the 19 governors from the north after their meeting and opposed the establishment of Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC). We must effectively treat the causes rather than symptoms, we must recognise that as important as democracy is, however, defined, it can only deliver stability through social and economic justice. The world is full of multi-national states, which have been huge successes such as Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Britain etc and multi-national states, which have been woeful failures such as Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Those have been successful, have been successful because they practice true federalism, with full autonomy to federating units. Those who have failed, have failed because they have failed to practice true federalism. They have run federal states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it.   It looks to me that the greatest danger to Nigeria unity is the refusal of those who refuse to allow for the restructuring of Nigeria.   Shakespeare in one of his immortal plays gave this advice to young Hamlet: "This above all, to thy own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man". There is no Nigerian leader dead or alive who is not guilty of one of several acts of self-deception. It is an act of self-deception for anyone to argue that there is nothing wrong with the federal arrangement we have now.We must talk. Olufemi Aduwo President/CEO & Designate Official Representative,   United Nations  of  Centre for Convention on Democratic integrity Ltd/Gte .www.ccdiltd.org