Nigeria: Ethnic Nationality Conference Underway
Diigbo asks President Jonathan to avoid political expediency and wrong judgment
MOSOP President /Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo said: “We, the people of Ogoni, are reviewing Federal Government Modalities on Sovereign National Conference, nicknamed National Conference. We will elect delegates from bottom-up, on village and village basis, and elect the finalists from among the village delegates so that no one is imposed on the people, if only we are satisfied with modalities released.”
In a statement after a meeting held in Teyork, on February 2, 2014, Diigbo said: “So far, it has become obvious that government modalities for the assembly would require a thorough review by President Goodluck Jonathan to make it result-oriented.”
“What catches my eyes is the structure of the conference, which enables the socalled majority tribes to make reforms impossible. It discouragestolerance, freedom of expression and conscience that are essential for Nigerians to live together in peace with one another as good neighbors,” Diigbo noted.
“The FG modalities present a looming picture of uncertainty and chaos; confab violence, or at best, a peaceful walk-out by ethnic nationalities. The prospect of indecision and commotion might produce automatic break-up of Nigeria, and forestall the most anticipated general elections of February 2015 – the probable motivation for political expediency,” Diigbo contended.
“It doesn’t require a master analyst to see all these dangers embedded in the concocted modalities. This may be the handwork of dark and powerful political forces indirectly plotting a roadmap for Jonathan’s downfall,” Diigbo alerted.
“By those modalities, they succeeded in pitching ethnic nationalities against Jonathan. They’ve created a scenario of a political struggle between minority tribes and corrupt politicians. Kitchen advisers of Jonathan may have underestimated the dangerous current. It is not late to put a genuine national dialogue back on track,” Diigbo demanded.
Diigbo said: “I particularly appeal to President Jonathan not to allow political expediency and wrong judgment to undermine his potent legacy. I will call for a separate National Dialogue of Ethnic Nationalities, if the Sovereign National Conference fails to hold,” Diigbo hinted.
“Nigeria, a British colonial legacy, which assumed responsibilities for the ethnic nationalities as internally colonized peoples, must recognize the principle that, if Nigeria is to continue as a nation state, the interests of the ethnic minorities or ‘minority nationalities’ come first, and is a sacred duty.,” Diigbo concluded
ENDS