The National Conference continued on Wednesday with delegates urging the Conference to be courageous in addressing sensitive issues of federalism, resource control, indigeneship, citizenship, religion and rights of ethnic minority, among others.
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, in his submission, philosophically noted that it may be that the older generation that were not dead but at the conference were so opportune by God to participate in order to make amendment of past mistakes they committed against the country.
Saying that Nigerians must be tolerant of each other if the nation must move forward, Clark advised that the issue of religion should not be taken too far by the delegates when pressing their demands.
On his part, former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, said the conference has provided an opportunity for the country to chart a new course.
Coomasie said: “We should be patriotic to do this.
“What we need now is good leadership through transparent election and servant leaders that lead by examples.
“We need leaders that would be ready to carry out their constitutional responsibility of security and welfare of the people.
It is my hope that we are able to amend the constitution so that all rights would be justiciable.
“Security is a huge challenge.
“The entire northern Nigeria is segregated to insecurity, insurgency is everywhere.
“Since 2009, there have been killings, property destroyed.
“At first, the cause of these was attributed to Boko Haram but with the arrest and detention of leaders and members of the sect without trial, I think we have to look at it holistically.
“Agencies for law and order must be strengthened to carry out their duties.”
Retired Brigadier General Muhammad Dan Ali, was not happy that President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration speech was silent on security.
As a security expert, Ali felt marginalized by the President on behalf of his constituency.
He said: “With the security situation around the country, life is worth nothing and we don’t know what is wrong with the security system.
“For instance, the DSS (Department of State Service) is now assigned to combat and perform military duties that has made them to abandon their primary duty of intelligence gathering to do what does not concern them.
“Even soldiers were deployed to the street for so long and that is bad for our democracy.
“The military is so bastardized that so many Generals were retired involuntarily without taking into consideration the resources spent on training them.
“We need a complete restructuring of the military, the police and the SSS so that each can be made to face its primary responsibilities.”
Senator Musa Dansadau regretted that the President, in his speech, gave no assurance that the recommendations of the Conference would be implemented.
Dansadau however appealed to the President that recommendations on critical issues such as security, unity and citizenship, among others should be implemented.
While HRH, Edmond Daukoru, said the new generation of Nigerians were curious and very demanding, having been born and growing up in an internet age, he warned that their patience should not be tested with continuous failure of governance.
Chief Raymond Dokpesi said all constitutions operated by the country since 1960 to date have not worked well for Nigerians.
Dokpesi said: “We have to take a deep look with proposal for restructuring and what the status quo should be.
“It is regrettable that we have been left behind by our compatriot countries like Singapore, Brazil and a host of others that were at par with us in the 60s.”
Dokpesi said there are problems with the nation’s system that doesn’t recognize religion, that ignores industrial growth, adding: “We need to restructure and reorganize.”
Aliyu Doma warned his colleagues to be cautious in handling sensitive issues such as resource control, indigenesip and federalism so they do not to override or subvert national interest.
Ben Dutoye, a youth representative, blasted the conference for not giving enough recognition to the youth.
Saying that the conference is about the future of the country, Duntoye cited the omission of the youths from the 49 member group of elders.
He advised that the conference must be courages to make far-reaching recommendations on contending issues.
He said: “We must get it right, fight corruption and impunity.
“How can one individual steal N23 billion and still walking around a free man?
“The youths of this country are not asking for much.
“If the government can start up a Nigerian youth with N1 million, how many of our youths would have been so empowered?
“Capital punishment is required for looters of our treasury.
“Let us take advantage of our diversity.
“Religion is now a political matter.
“Let’s pay less attention to issues of religion if we want to move forward.”
Duntoye however thanked the elders at the conference that accepted that they failed the nation.
Dr. Magdalene Mba Dora canvassed inclusivity, saying the Tiv people found in other states other than Benue are marginalized.
Dora said arbitrary boundary demarcation and adjustments has led to the denial of rights of such Tiv people that were regarded as settles in the other states, regardless of the existence of their ancestral home in such states.
J. I. Ebinu, a retired police officer, noted that the problem confronting the country are self-inflicted, having left the basics.
Ebinu said the way forward was the practice of true federalism that would stop federations units going to the centre to beg for sustenance.
Ebinu, who advocated return to parliamentary system of government, said the country should do away with presidential system of government because it is too expensive.
Saying that Nigeria should be home to all Nigerians wherever they found themselves, he said citizenship should be expunged from the constitution.
Former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, said Nigerians are the problem facing the country, noting that a new constitution won’t solve the problem.
Egwu questioned a system that allows political appointees to earn more than academicians, one that encourages the impoverishment of the source of oil.
“It is the conspiracy of the elite,” he said
Rear Admiral C. S. Ehanmo (rtd) said the alarming insecurity situation was caused by poverty, unemployment and the marginalization of minority groups
Ehanmo also regretted that the government cared less for its citizens, saying pensioners have been neglected and ignored.
He said: “Government can’t call on retired officers who were on reserved list to assist in the insecurity situation because we are not being taken care of.”
Major General Geoffrey Ejiga said things are deteriorating fast.
Ejiga said: “We must discuss to pull this country back from the brink of destruction.
“Corruption is a major cause of problem.
“Corrupt officials must be hanged.
“We also have to sort out issues of minority rights and ethnic determination.
“Our national conscience should be pricked.”
According to Prof. Olu Ajakaiye, the country’s political system is inefficient and too expensive, adding that deprivation leads to agitations on indigeneship, resource control, federalism and other sensitive national questions.
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