By Orlu Joseph Orlu
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.”
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