BY Uwakwe Joseph Uwakwe
Delegates to the on-going National Conference have been warned not to let the opportunity provided by the confab to fix the challenges of nation-building and unity facing Nigeria slip through their fingers, as doing so may plunge the country to inexorable decent to anarchy.
They were also advised to rather exploit the opportunity presented by the Confab to address Nigeria’s National question, if the views of her many nationals that the country should remain one indivisible and united nation must be realized.
The Port Harcourt Press Club (PHPC) gave the warning while rising from its session in the Rivers State capital on Thursday after brainstorming on current nagging national issues and deliberating on the ways the press could increase its role as a catalyst for national cohesion.
The PHPC, while commending the contributions of the a good number of the delegates who its said, “have exhibited clear –headedness, focus, patriotism and good grasp of the issues germane to stable and progressive polity like Nigeria”, berated those who, not only gloss over or trivialize the salient issues of national import, but chose to dwell on fringe matters and while others dose through sessions.
“We expect the galaxy of statesmen , professional and patriots that have assembled in Abuja till the next three months to decide the future health of this richly endowed but highly traumatized nation, to exhibit high level of nationalism, tolerance and accommodating spirit in chatting a future for Nigeria.
“It is inconceivable that while murderous vandals and terrorists are killing our nationals like chicken, and pillaging this empire created by Sir Frederick Lugard for us in 1914, from North –Eastern and North -Central reaches, politicians are pandering to selfish , clannish and ethnic and religious interests as well as jostling for 2015.
“It is equally exasperating and frustrating that while the majority in the confab are agreed on fundamental issues such as true federalism, zonal re-structuring of the country and devolution of power as well as basic issues of national unity , others in the minority are insisting on maintenance of status quo.
“Delegates should concern themselves with how to encourage and develop indigenous technology , local industries as a way of reducing the unemployment and poverty scourge that may soon pose another security challenge to the nation as w ell as basic issues of Justice, equity and fairness which at the root of Nigeria’s nation-building crisis,” the body of journalists stated.
The body warned that Nigerians, including the 492 wise men that are currently debating Nigeria’s future should not blame President Goodluck Jonathan if the conference fails to achieve its goals, saying; We cannot afford to be Caeser who fiddled while Rome burnt. This is our chance and we should not fritter it.”
