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In his famous book, Profiles in Courage, President John F. Kennedy said: "In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience…the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men … each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient … they can teach, they can offer hope, and they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul."
As the above reference indicates, President Kennedy inspired people to follow their conscience and to work for the benefit of their communities, their country, and their world. He believed that individuals can make a difference, and that political leaders can show great courage even at the moments of enormous pressure from their constituents. More importantly, he wanted to restore a belief in politics as a noble profession and a means for doing good. Given Nigerian political history, it is fair to say that only a few places in the world today need more conscientious and courageous people than Nigeria. This partly explains the level of excitement and commendation President Goodluck Jonathan has received from numerous individuals and groups since formally accepting the call for a National Conference.
A conference, many hopes would lead to a New Constitution. A new Constitution that would unmistakably define the conditions on which the diverse ethnic groups that make up Nigeria can live together in peace, progress, security and prosperity as one country. While many welcome this development as a step in the right direction, we must keep in mind that there are also a large number of skeptics who fear that the National Conference would amount to “nothing” given that the administration has already placed some limits on how far the discussion can go. This fear is further justified by the simple truth that dealing effectively with the North vs. South dichotomy has been a long challenge for Nigeria since the amalgamation of the two a century ago (1914) under the Lord Lugard administration.
Whatever side of the discussion one finds him/herself, we must approach this task with a clear understanding that every generation has its opportunities and challenges. The manner in which such opportunities and challenges are handled determine the course of history and the future of the succeeding generation. The enormity of the challenges we face as a nation even as the National Conference gets underway require that we examine all aspects of our political life. For this reason, many people including this writer strongly recommend that everything ought to be on the table.
This is to say that there should be nothing like a “no-go” area when it comes to examining our political reality since amalgamation. Understanding Nigerian political experience (both triumphs and tribulations) is critical to offering suggestions for improvement; with the overarching goal of correcting the faults in our current political systems from which we now suffer. A vibrant, honest and serious examination of our past will also show that history has left us a message. The message is that we have reached a tipping point where every responsible Nigerian must embrace decency, accountability and the pursuit of justice for every member of our society, especially the most vulnerable, who not only deserve equal justice but also our absolute resolve to extend to them, the protection guaranteed even in our current constitution. Most Nigerians already agree that the unity of Nigeria is a shared responsibility as well as opportunity for every ethnicity that comprise the country. That means total commitment to the rule of law. For most Nigerians, the outcome of this national dialogue should be simple. We either live together as one united, peaceful, and progressive family or seek an amicable divorce.
The conference therefore, offers Nigeria a veritable opportunity to chart a new course. The effort here must be to call all citizens to a higher sense of value and ideal. I am measuredly optimistic that each of the individuals sitting at the conference table has within him or her that which is necessary to reclaim the virtues that make great societies. The principle motivational force necessary to accomplish this requires enormous wisdom and political courage to create a future that would make most Nigerians and the succeeding generations proud. It has been proven throughout history that, no economic, political or social construct can archive a desirable result without a network of committed individuals who stand firmly by them. This is a chance for the President, the conferees, and above all, the present generation of Nigerians to change the course of history for the better. This time, we cannot afford to squander the rare opportunity by reshuffling the status quo. So, let’s show some courage.
Written by Kenneth C. Akwuole, Ph.D
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