Each of these regional bodies has a principal motive of protecting the interests and integrity of its members and for a polity such as Nigeria, such a motive or objective is perfectly  in order for  as long as it is not in conflict  with the interests or other federating units or blocks or zones of the country.

It is  with a heavy face and heart that I convey to you the feelings of the people of the South-South towards the excising of part of our region, the Efik speaking Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. If that excision is allowed to remain, the name of my regional body, the South-South Peoples Conference might be changed to the South-South Peoples Conference of Nigeria and Cameroon. I am however comforted by the recent decision of the Federal Government to reject the ruling of the World Court, thus giving the Efik people of Nigeria a sense of belonging.

I accept that it is practically impossible for the interests of one zone to be in complete harmony with the interests of another zone since Nigeria is nothing but an artificial creation midwived by the British in 1914 with the criminal amalgamation  of the Northern and Southern Protectorates; protectorates of strange bed fellows, By that amalgamation, and before that, the creation of the different protectorates in the first instance, the different people of what is today Nigeria were denied the freedom of choice. The problems facing this country today, I dare say, are traceable to the welding together of unlike metals. The centre has failed to hold since then. If we agree that the possibility of one regional interest being in conflict with other regional interests is real, then it behoves on us to seek ways and means of settling such inter-regional differences  and the most acceptable way of doing this is through dialogue.

I see my invitation to this occasion as an attempt by the Arewa Consultative Forum  to at least, listen  to, if not accept the views of those from other geopolitical regions and for that , I congratulate the  leaders of  ACF but then, I am beginning to smell a coup de tat by the ACF because the coming together of leader of the  Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South Peoples Conference, Ohaneze  Ndigbo and Afenifere  is nothing short of a National Conference  (Sovereign  or not.) My reason for  saying this is that the Arewa Consultative Forum is accepted as the mouth piece of the Northerners just as the Yoruba look up to Afenifere for direction; the same thing applies to Ohaneze and the lgbo and the South-South Peoples Conference and the Niger Deltans. No Governor, Senator, Representatives or Assemblyman has a constituency as large as that of the leaders of any of these regional groups.

Thus by bringing  leaders from the different zones of the country to brainstorm on the future  of democracy in Nigeria; the Arewa’ Consultative Forum has knowingly or unknowingly convoked a national conference  (the much  dreaded national conference ). It is for this reason that I expect deliberations  at this  seminar to be frank and purposeful. A National Conference after  all, is nothing but the coming together of the representatives of the various ethnic nationalities or federating units of the country to share ideas on ways of moving forward, together or separately. I know that nobody in this hail or gathering is averse to the idea of coming together but 1 also know that many here, particularly those of the Arewa stock are uncomfortable with the prefix “Sovereign” to the national conference. That fear need not arise because that again, is a matter of choice.

Democracy  and Freedom of choice : Multi Party Politics in Nigeria Democracy as a state policy in Nigeria is expressed in chapter 2, section 14 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that  “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice”. To this end, “it is hereby accordingly declared that:

 a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all his powers and authority.

b) The  security and welfare of  the people shall be the primary purpose of government, and

c) The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance  with the provisions of this constitution’’.

Thus, democracy as a state policy in Nigeria is in consonance with the global concept. Freedom of choice, like democracy, is also enshrined in the Constitution of  the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sections 8-42 of the constitution clearly stipulate some of these aspects of freedom as

1.) Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

2.) Right to freedom of expression and the press

3.) Right to peaceful assembly and association

4,) Right to freedom of movement and

5.) Right to freedom from discrimination.

I am convinced that the Arewa Consultative Forum, like any other group, regional or other wise, which lays claim to being democratic; is actually interested in, not democracy and freedom of choice per se, which are guaranteed in the constitution, NOt in threats, encumbrances and road blocks to democracy and freedom of choice. The ACF must be interested in threats to freedom of choice of what religion to belong to or not to belong to any; freedom of choice of what part of the country to settle in; freedom of choice of the group with whom to. associate with or not to associate with in a sovereign state and freedom of choice of what political party to belong to or support. I condemn  a situation where a man’s freedom of choice is restricted to six or any number of political parties. This is not right because my choice may be outside the six parties. I belong to the school of thought which believes that there should be  no limit  to the number of’ political parties in a democracy because, limiting the number of’ parties also limits the freedom of’ choice. 1 do not believe that it is in the best interest of the country for the Independent National Electoral Commission (]NEC) to be involved in the  choice of political party a man should belong to. A situation whereby certain impossible conditions or guidelines arc given  for a party to qualify for registration amounts  to a threat or encumbrance on the choice of political party for the individual.

My interest in wanting to form a political party does not have to be national since I could have interests to protect that are relevant to the Niger Delta people or  even the  people of my home state, Delta alone. My interest could even be the protection of the ljaw speaking people of Delta State alone.  The African National Congress (ANC.) was a national party in South Africa, yet, all kinds of parties with different  interests were formed when the minorities decided to hand over power to the majorities. Buthelezi, a prominent politician in South Africa, and a strong opponent of Nelson Mandela knew he was not going to win an election against Nelson Mandela nationally, so he restricted himself to his area and later became a powerful Minister in Mandela’s government because Mandela  could not do without Buthelezi’s area where the ANC lost heavily. ‘This is the practice in may parts of the world where there is true democratic practice. It does not matter if some political parties fall by the way side because these are the ingredients of democracy.

To me a multi party system means the formation of a limitless number of  political parties, not restricted to any number. For example, when the Green Party was established in  some countries in Europe, it was founded purely to protect the environment and they were small then with very little appeal. Today, in various European countries, the Green Party is playing a prominent role. The party that won the election in Germany cannot do without the Green Party. So. why not give everybody a chance to form a party of his choice and allow those that will die to die on their own rather than being aborted?

Even in the recent presidential elections in France, the far right, which was not given a chance to win one or two votes came second. If they had been restricted, there would have been unnecessary tension and their potential would not have come out. The Independent Electoral Commission should therefore be asked to hands off the formation of political parties and be made to restrict  itself to the conduct of elections.

The encumbrances to democracy and freedom of choice are a legion but just a few will be highlighted here. Whatever a man does or believes that gets him close to his ‘creator or grants him his peace of  mind is his religion. Religion is thus ordinarily, a personal thing as the belief that brings Musa close to his God and gives him peace is different from that which brings Moses close to his God and gives him peace. If religion remains at the personal level, there would be no problem. But the problem arises however, when religion becomes a matter of state in a multi religious and multi ethnic country like Nigeria, with one religion group attempting to impose its dogma or beliefs on others, But, how does this affect democracy and freedom of choice? Not too long ago, a highly placed Muslim was alleged to have made the declaration that Muslims should note’ vote for a Christian candidate For the presidency and like the much awaited signal, this informed many Christian organizations to call on their adherents, not only to come out to contest for elective positions, but to also ensure that they vote for their kind.

If Muslims or Christians are encouraged or even forced to vote for their kind into position, then there is no doubt that the much cherished freedom of choice is being encumbranced . In this regard, I must give credit to the so-called pagans who have taught us a lesson in democracy and freedom of choice, by not calling on their adherents to tie their votes to religion or faith, Only recently, a Christian group called on its members to withdraw from a particular political party because that party had Muslim intentions. This is a most unfortunate development because, politicians who are supposed to be defenders of democracy and freedom of choice have short-changed Nigerians by  appealing to religious sentiments, knowing that in times of hardship like we are currently facing , religion happens to be the only hope of the common man , as that provides a chance for the salvation of the soul, the physical realm  having been rendered hopeless by the same politicians.

Ethnicity, poverty, illiteracy and power have also been very effectively manipulated to encumbrance our freedom of choice. Yet, this need not be. The people of my geographic zone, the South-South, have complained of the domination of the Arewa in the leadership of the country. My tours through the country have shown that the poverty levels of the people have remained the same and it would appear to me that the poorer the people are kept, the more easily they are manipulated by the ruling class and the more denied they are of their freedom of choice. The  domination of the North in the leadership of this country has also not improved the educational level of the masses in the area, and this is understandably so because, the less educated the people are, the more they believe in their leaders and the more easily they are manipulated and in the  process, they are denied their freedom  of choice.

My tours through the Arewa region have also not revealed any meaningful increase in the number of jobs created for the masses and yet, the jobless are the targets of our political campaigns. What I have said of the Arewa people applies to all zones of the country  because Nigerian politicians appeal to ethnic sentiments for their selfish reasons. We are familiar with the bizarre dimensions the impeachment proceedings against the President at the National Assembly have taken. The charges are coloured with some evil intentions, vendetta and vengeance while the reactions have been largely ethnic, I was amused when I read in the newspapers that the Odua Peoples Conference (OPC) has threatened secession of the Yoruba race if President Olusegun Obasanjo, their tribesman is impeached. Both parties, the proponents and opponents of impeachment, have exhibited a high level  of mischief.

Another encumbrance which, in fact, constitutes a serious impediment to democracy and freedom of choice, is the involvement of operatives and highly placed officials of military regimes in the civilian democratic process. Nigerians complained that military regimes have not only been detrimental to our development as a nation, but they still portend a bad omen to our aspirations as a people. One therefore wonders why some people have chosen to invite the same characters who have served either as military men in previous military regimes, to be part of the present democratic dispensation , despite the clear evil  machinations of such regimes, One of the complaints against the military is that the soldiers carted away our wealth; yet, the same soldiers have been invited to serve. The wealth so carted away would now be used to further enslave or deceive the people into further subservience and undeserved reverence of their established fiefdom. This thus creates another obvious encumbrance to the democratic process and freedom of choice.

Power has been greatly abused in an attempt to beat people into line, thus creating roadblocks  on the path of democracy and freedom of choice. We are all too familiar with the Shugaba case of the early eighties. When Alhaji Shugaba was bundled out of Nigeria and dumped in the desert just outside the Nigerian border, he was not just being denied his freedom of choice, but others were being sent clear signals that the Administration would tolerate no opposition. Our founding fathers  fought very hard to win democracy and freedom for us.  Somewhere along the line military adventurist  truncated our freedom while we were yet savouring it and now that there is a semblance of its restoration, it behoves on us as lovers of freedom, to use all means at our disposal to resist any attempt from any quarter or quarters, to take us back into the dark abyss of dictatorship. Again, I thank the Arewa Consultative Forum for the love extended to me through this invitation. May brotherly love continue.

Excerpts delivered  at the  ACF seminar on  future of democracy in Nigeria 

Nov 2002