USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

My Brother Osamede,

I am VERY CONSCIOUS on this issues and I am not conflating the facts about the negotiation for Independence and the post-independence negotiations among Nigerians for a structural arrangment for Nigerian managment by Nigerians. For example, Nigeria has produced at least 2 Nigerian-made constitutions since the Independence. FACT! Where the provisions of these constitutions dictated from Britain or elsewhere? NO! The FACTS will reveal that the two post-independence sessions that produced Nigerian constitutions (even as recent as 1999) have provided Nigerians all the opportunities they have to modify the formulation for a Nigerian nation; but the situation has remained the SAME (except the unfortunate Bakassi issue, of course). Besides, just like the USA and several other modern nations, Nigerians even went through a Civil War to retain its FORM! So what sacrifices and efforts have Nigerians not made to remain AS IS? And who is more Nigerian than those who have made these efforts and sacrifices to KEEP NIGERA AS IS!

 

I believe it was our Brother Nowa who clarified recently that the agitation for Midwest pre-dated the 1960 Independence of Nigeria; so the energy just carried over and led to the rapid establishment of the Region. But you still observe that the event was subsumed by the agitaation for the nation, which is how it should be; so there was no need to negotiate the creation of Midwest into the terms or conditions for creating Nigeria. And the reality and process of this event speak to apparent unanimity of the Nigerian leaders (from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria) who negotiated with the British colonizers and among themselves to Establish a nation called NIGERIA!

I have cited at least one example of a section of Nigeria that decided to join Cameroon after the creation of Nigerian borders; they LEFT! So why are you STILL fixated on your point that "....Nigeria as currently constituted was put together by the British because it was the most convenient and expedient way for them to govern the territories that were in their possession. "?

 

Finally, thank you for the agreements we have on the need to encourage Nigerians ".. to sum up the courage to call out their corrupt leaders and that the basis of Nationhood should not be renegotiated in every generation. ....[and that ]there has to be a concerted effort to keep the Union together no matter what...]; however, you conclusion that the ethnic heterogenity of Nigeria demands a re-negotiation of the formulation of the nation from generation to genration is unacceptable becaause all these ethnic groups have been represented in ALL THE post-independence forums to design the structural arrangment (constituion) for Nigerian managment by Nigerians! It is my candid opinion that all protocols have beeb observed for the design of a functional structural arrangments for Nigerian existence; it is TIME FOR NATION BUILDING AND FORWARD LOOKING, NOT BACKWARD in Nigeria any more. As somebody (I believe General Danjuma) rightly observed recently, re-negotiating the basis for Nigerian existence at this time is comparable to a married couple with children and shared assets and interests trying to discuss after 50 years of existence whether they are compatible for marriage or not. It is a FUTILE EXERCISE that no sensible couple would undertake when the imperatives are suppose to be how to guide children, protect and preserve assets, and look forward to a formidable companionship in their old age. I AGREE WITH Gen Danjuma in to to! Take care. JUI 

---

From: edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Osamede Edosomwan
Sent: Sun 31-Oct-10 11:56 PM
To: edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [edo-nationality] RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

JUI my brother,

 

The fight for independence and what we are talking about here are two different things. When you are fighting for independence you are not worried about the articles of federation. Remember that barely two years after independence, Mid West region was being created by a referendum. If one was to follow your line of reasoning, then one would be tempted to ask why the creation of Mid West region was not negotiated into the articles of independence. The fact remains that Nigeria as currently constituted was put together by the British because it was the most convenient and expedient way for them to govern the territories that were in their possession. Let's use the American model here for the sake of analysis in this discourse. After Independence was achieved in 1776, the Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia in which the articles of Federation were negotiated and ironed out between the 13 colonies. It's the same thing that happened with the European Union at the turn of the last century. This is the reason that UK even though an integral part of the EU still uses the Sterling as it's national currency. Unless I am missing something here, I am not aware that this was ever the case with regards to Nigeria. Negotiating with the British for your independence which is a master servant type  negotiation and negotiating the articles of Federation among the various ethnic nationalities that make up the nation state on an egalitarian basis are two different things entirely. I agree with you that people have to sum up the courage to call out their corrupt leaders and that the basis of Nationhood should not be renegotiated in every generation. I also agree with you that there has to be a concerted effort to keep the Union together no matter what but, a true and equitable articles of federation has to be negotiated for a viable and efficacious nation building process to occur in Nigeria because of the extenuating factors that I mentioned in my earlier post. Namely a lack of the homogeneity of similar ethnic identities, languages and culture. This is basic social science or political science 101. The Nigerian situation is unique because of the constant military incursions into the political landscape in it's infant 50 year history. We have had this discussion before. We as Nigerians or Africans are in this conundrum we find ourselves in because we are by nature and cultural characteristics inherently alienated from this system of government. If not the first thing that should have happened after independence would have been to convene a federation congress of some sort where all the ethnic nationalities concerned (not just the Yoruba, Hausa and Ibo) could have negotiated the articles of the federation on an egalitarian basis. I agree with you on all of your points except on this one because it is the first step in the Nation building process which in Nigeria's case appears to have been truncated. I am not aware that this process was ever undertaken or undertaken effectively in Nigeria's history and if it was, then it execution was flawed in which case it has to be corrected or rectified.

Stay blessed,

 

Osamede

---

From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@cdc.gov>
To: edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com
Cc: afenmai@yahoogroups.com; isadus@googlegroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, October 31, 2010 6:50:31 PM
Subject: RE: [edo-nationality] RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

My Brother Osamede:

Please, answer the following questions before you get carried away by the ethnic jingoism from some of these ethnic mongers in our forums:

1. Were the Nigerians who negotiated Nigerian Independence illegal Nigerians? Didnt they come from the present ethnic groups in Nigeria?

2. Are the past and present Nigerian leaders derived from ethnic groups in Great Britain or Russia, or from ethnic groups within Nigeria? Arent Nigerian leaders legitimate representatives of Nigerian ethnic groups? Or are some Nigerian leaders legitimate while others are not?

3. By your statement that the present Niigeria is nation ""..were none of the ethnic nationalities were willing participants in any of the mechanisms or political machinations that created the federation or nation state """, do you mean those Nigerian leaders leaders who negotiated the Independence and the first Constituion (Herbert Macauley, Zik, Balewa, Sadauna, Awolowo, Enahoro, etc) were non-Nigerians or were not representing the ethnic nationalities they came in Nigeria?

4. Dont you think is is rather an over-statement to suggest that "the current Nigerian nation-state was put together by the British with a blatant and criminal disregard for the common or ethic identities and cultural matches that are required in any formulation of a viable and truly functional nation state absent of conquest."? In fact, as originally discussed between the British Colonizers and representatives of the different ethnic groups, there were some regions that opted out; an example is Southwest Cameroon which gives the convex dent on the Southeast border of Nigeria today! The Valid Point is that Nigerians who represented the different ethnic groups in Nigeria were participants in the creation of the Nigerian nation from the onset!

5. Except you have reasons to doubt or suspect the ethnic backgrounds of the Nigerian leaders who negotiated Nigerian Independence and drafted the maiden or subsequent constitutions, there is no basis for re-negotiating the basis of a Nigerian nation after 50 years of her creation; what is imperative at this time is how to develop and integrate Nigeria as a modern nation. So I dont agree with you when you said "...for any one to think that the terms and agreement for a viable and truly functional nation-state need not be negotiated at this stage of the game is either intellectually disingenuous or politically naive".

Finally, I would like to reiterate that Nigerians CANNOT AFFORD TO BE RUNNING IN CIRCLES with these ethnic mongering issues and distractions. My candid advice to you is to resist the temptation of being suck into the fake and deceptive slogans of dissidents and disgruntled ethnic mongers who are either clueless, confused or just simply busy-bodying about the concept of what a modern nation is; watch closely and you would realize that they are actually canvassing for their individual selfish opportunities under the guise of "our ethnic groups"! Nigerians from the different ethnic groups sat to create a nation; instead of focusing on developing and uniting the country, some of these people want the basis of nationhood to be re-negotiated EVERY GENERATION! It is a WASTE of precious TIME needed for national development and integration! Any negotiation platform (SNG, NPRC etc) will QUICKLY DEGENERATE into a "pretend" forum for ethnic jingoists to dance their war dances and sing their tribal songs, so that opportunists can cash in! WE KNOW THEIR GAMES! Besides, if we are serious about moving Nigeria forward quickly, people of the different ethnic groups have to exercise the courage to call their coorupt and inept leaders to shape up, sit up and perform for their communities and Nigeria, and QUIT shifting blames to Nigerian formation formula. Nigeria will be as progressive as the management capabilities of the representatives of the different ethnic groups who discuss and manage her affiairs; it is irresponsible to shift the blame; the quality of a final product is as good as the the quality of the composite parts. Nigerians MUST commit to and focus on Nation Building, to be considered adequately fit and sufficiently equipped to march alongside other modern nations towards the imminent Global Village! Take care. JUI

 

 

---

From: edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Osamede Edosomwan
Sent: Sun 31-Oct-10 7:16 PM
To: edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [edo-nationality] RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

JUI,

You are half right on this one. All humanly possible efforts should be made to keep the Nigerian Union together because of the trend towards mutual interdependence in the new global community. However, you can not have a federation like you have in Nigeria were non of the ethnic nationalities were willing participants in any of the mechanisms or political machinations that created the federation or nation state. If this were one homogeneous nation with a homogeneous language and culture then your point will be well taken, but what is obvious is that your argument seems to be either by omission or guile ignoring one of the greatest and most important characteristic and foundations of Nation building. The fact remains that the current Nigerian nation-state was put together by the British with a blatant and criminal disregard for the common or ethic identities and cultural matches that are required in any formulation of a viable and truly functional nation state absent of conquest. That model was fine as long as the British remained in physical control of Nigeria but, they have been gone for fifty years and for any one to think that the terms and agreement for a viable and truly functional nation-state need not be negotiated at this stage of the game is either intellectually disingenuous or politically naive. The fact remains that non of the parties to the current union were willing participants in any kind of referendum or plebiscite into the creation of the current Nigerian nation-state. The question then becomes, how can you have a fully viable and functional nation-state were non of the ethnic nationalities that make up the nation state were willing participants in any or all of the mechanisms or political machinations that created the nation-state where there was also no conquest involved by any of the parties in the union coupled with the absence of a homogeneity of culture or language? The terms of the union have to be clearly defined and agreed on by all the ethnic nationalities before Nigeria can truly become a functional and viable nation-state. Until that is done we are all just whistling Dixie and still under British colonial influence.

Osamede

---

From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@cdc.gov>
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; isadus@googlegroups.com
Cc: NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, October 31, 2010 8:37:56 AM
Subject: [edo-nationality] RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

 

"""""What is lacking in the present day Nigeria is lack of buy-in by the ethnicities that form the union."""""Unquote Idowu

 

The above quote is reminiscent of the consistent and continuing ethnic mongering that has keep Nigeria down for 50-something years now! Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to be ruled and managed by leaders from these SAME ETHNIC GROUPS where the Idowu(s) and other Ethnic-Mongers want the nation to reside. The rational Question is: which other ethnic groups in Nigeria do the Idowu(s) need their buy-in before Nigeria can be let be to make make PROGRESS, when leaders who discuss and manage Nigeria now are from the different ethnic groups in Nigeria? Aliens?

Some of these people are either clueless, confused or just simply busy-bodying about the concept of what a modern nation is; they appear to be canvassing for their individual selfish opportunities under the guise of "our ethnic groups"!

DAMN IT, the DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS are already managing Nigeria! Which other way are you going to  select representatives from the ethnic groups in Nigeria to discuss and manage her affair that will EXCLUDE the present leaders (Oni, Chiefs and Obas from SW; Obas and Chiefs from Midwest; Obis, Ezes, Obong and Chiefs from the SE; Emirs, Alhajis, Sardauna etc of the Northern Emirates; key national figures and their sorrugates/representatives; key business/corporate representatives etc)? IMPOSSIBLE! They are equal opportunity stakeholders in both their ethnic groups and Nigeria, like any of the Idowu(s). My Brothers and Sisters, Nigeria CANNOT AFFORD TO BE RUNNING IN CIRCLES with these ethnic mongering issues and distractions. People of the different ethnic groups have to exercise the courage to call their leaders to perform for their communities and Nigeria, and QUIT shifting blames to Nigeria. Nigeria is as progressive as the management capabilities of the representatives of the different ethnic groups who discuss and manage her affiairs; it is irresponsible to shift the blame; the quality of a final product is as good as the the quality of the composite parts. Nigerians MUST commit to and focus on Nation Building, to be considered adequately fit and sufficiently equipped to march alongside other modern nations towards the imminent Global Village! Take care. JUI

---

From: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com on behalf of NNAMDI JcSent: Sun 31-Oct-10 10:47 AM
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re: [ RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma

 

Why not Danjuma !

After all, you killed Ironsi for the same purpose :

To keep Nigeria one !!!!!

nnamdi
--- In NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, idowu <idowubobo@...> wrote:
>
> JUI:
>
> You talk as if you've never step your foot in the Nigerian soil in a long time.
> This your optimism must be based on what some of us are not seeing. But if you
> are now a parapsychologist, please let us know.
>
> You are in your lab in US and screaming leadership, as if the leadership will
> jump from the sky. Secondly, any development or restructuring based on a man is
> a failed system.
>
>
> What is lacking in the present day Nigeria is lack of buy-in by the ethnicities
> that form the union. 
>
> The way you mention leadership is very reminiscent of the Republican party
> solution to all economic ills of America--tax cut.
>
> How many of these leaders that you are talking about has Nigeria produced in her
> 50 years of existence? My brother be realistic, you are dealing with human
> beings and not pathogens which activities are predictable. You are not even
> talking about ordinary human beings, you are talking about Nigerians.
>  Idowu
> "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson
>
>
> "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must
> never be a time when we fail to protest." -- Elie Wiesel
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" jbi8@...
> To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sat, October 30, 2010 11:02:33 PM
> Subject: [NaijaPolitics] RE: [ RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity -
> Danjuma
>
>  
> Publius,
> Look,it has been well established from the genesis of mankind and in both
> homogeneous and multi-ethnic societies that societal progress is Leadership!
> Leadership!! Leadership!!! The FACT remains that LEADERSHIP MAKES OR BREAK
> SOCIETY! People and society just follow the vision or no-vision, commitment or
> no-commitment, seriousness or no-seriousness and zeal or passivity of their
> leaders.
>
> In fact, just SOLVE the problem of leadership in Nigeria and MOST other Nigerian
> problems will be solved! Shikiena! JUI (Recollecting the apt words of former US
> Pres Harry Truman: ""In periods where there is no leadership, society stands
> still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity
> to change things for the better.� )
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Gauss'A' Hudson
> Sent: Sat 30-Oct-10 8:19 PM
> To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| RE: I'm ready for war to keep
> Nigeria's unity - Danjuma
>
>
>  
> JUI,
> I see two sides to this. One is negotiating how the country should be structured
> or run. The other is WHY the country should exist in the first place. When you
> say visionary leadership, is the vision going to be that of one person or should
> the populace have an input into this vision? If the people are not asked what
> their vision is how can they be expected to support the vision of the visionary
> leader and why should the country exist at all?
>
> Publius
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 30, 2010 at 2:11 PM, idowu idowubobo@... wrote:
>
>  
> >I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity - Danjuma
> > 
> >The man Danjuma is too old to fight any war.
> >
> > Idowu
> >"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson
> >
> >
> >"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must
> >never be a time when we fail to protest." -- Elie Wiesel
> >
> >
> ________________________________
> From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" jbi8@...
> >To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com;
> >NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> >Cc: NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com;
> >nigerianid@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com;
> >afenmai@yahoogroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com;
> >isadus@googlegroups.com
> >Sent: Sat, October 30, 2010 2:03:44 PM
> >Subject: ||NaijaObserver|| RE: I'm ready for war to keep Nigeria's unity -
> >Danjuma
> >
> > 
> >WESUPPORT Danjuma on the irrelevance of a National Conference to RE-DISCUSS the
> >need for a Nigerian State or Why We Should Have a Nigerian Nation. The Challenge
> >now is a Visionary Leadership to build and develop the nation, not subject her
> >to a re-negotiation. Take care. JUI
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com on behalf of peter opara
> >Sent: Sat 30-Oct-10 1:28 PM
> >To: nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >
> >
> > 
> >jing, my friend, you made me laugh...with that apt saying....speaking with food
> >in the mouth. let us dare him to carry guns and forget his riches.
> >
> >--- On Sat, 10/30/10, Thomas Jing thomasjing@... wrote:
> >
> >
> >>From: Thomas Jing thomasjing@...
> >>Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >>Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>To: nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com
> >>Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010, 1:06 PM
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> >>yeah peter,
> >>your analysis makes a lot of sense. he should just keep quiet and eat his
> >>millions. it is bad manners to speak with food in the mouth!
> >> 
> >>
> ________________________________
> To: nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> >>From: ogbuonyeiro@...
> >>Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:39:51 -0700
> >>Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >>Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>jing my friend, i know general danjuma as a person, and i know that he meant
> >>what he was saying; but as one with half a billion dollars in his pocket amidst
> >>millions of poor starving peoples, who is to believe him; he has made his
> >>choice, as to who he thinks can fight corruption to a "stand still", but he did
> >>know the man he chose functioned only on the protection of baba obasanjo; once
> >>obasanjo was nowhere around, the criminal cabals went after ribadu, and ribadu
> >>ran away.....danjuma will be in no position whatsoever to protect baby ribadu
> >>from the cabal that will sure surround him, frustrate him and floor him, that is
> >>if he has a single chance at all of seeing aso rock...yet danjuma will throw his
> >>millions at ribadu. i get curious, darned curious, why danjuma countenances not
> >>Buhari. but i understand it some. Buhari will never, ever, allow a situation in
> >>very poor nigeria, where a single man reaps millions of dollars off of the
> >>common weal, no matter how. all them nigerian operators like danjuma are thus
> >>aware....the vast nigeria is their playground, wherein they reap what they
> >>please, at the expense of all of us....for that reason, baabangida countenances
> >>no snc, it is 'a no go area' for him as far as nigeria's being....danjuma now
> >>says he will go to war.....as the same snc is a no go area for him...this gets
> >>my blood boiling, when people are against what to me determines what is mine and
> >>what other's....now who is ready to take up arms against the danjumas and
> >>baabangidas to fight for the good of all and what belongs to all.....i mean
> >>these men are ready to fight to keep the status quo that is so good to
> >>them.....WHO AMONG THE YAPSTERS HERE IS WILLING TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST THOSE
> >>WHO PERPETUALLY WILL AGAINST ALL, UPON ALL? i mean, when danjuma says he is
> >>ready to pick up arms to fight, i recall rather quickly he and his ilk had arms
> >>40 years ago to deny me freedom and security that i desired, and i want to say i
> >>count myself as one ready to fight, carry arms to fight for what i think is
> >>right for all in that godforsaken entity, a robbed and raped entity, some still
> >>want to keep as is because they get all they want from it, and the rest remain
> >>without.
> >>
> >>--- On Sat, 10/30/10, Thomas Jing thomasjing@... wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>From: Thomas Jing thomasjing@...
> >>>Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >>>Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>>To: nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com
> >>>Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010, 11:22 AM
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>yeah right! "... make nigeria one great country" indeed. by doing what, bleeding
> >>>her white. it is often terrible when people who helped in destroying nigeria
> >>>carry out such media forays to conceal their true character. ironsi's wife
> >>>once referred to danjuma as a coward; come to think of it, she's right.
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>________________________________
> To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
> >>>CC: naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; igboevents@yahoogroups.com
> >>>From: olawaleaina@...
> >>>Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:57:56 +0000
> >>>Subject: Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >>>Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>He is right on every point except that of the national conference. If I have 500
> >>>million dollars, I would say more than that!
> >>>
> >>>OA Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
> >>>________________________________
>
> >>>From: vincent modebelu vin_modebelu@...
> >>>Sender: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> >>>Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:17:43 -0700 (PDT)
> >>>To: OBSERVE YOURSELFNaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
> >>>ReplyTo: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
> >>>Cc: naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com;
> >>>igboevents@yahoogroups.com
> >>>Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] ||NaijaObserver||I’m ready for war to keep
> >>>Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>He said that the Obasanjo he knew in 1979 was not the one who presided over the
> >>>affairs of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007....we would be called to rubber stamp
> >>>because he had already given anticipatory approval.......danjuma
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>I’m ready for war to keep Nigeria’s unity â€" Danjuma
> >>>Saturday, 30 October 2010 05:42
> >>>Biodun Durojaiye 
> >>>Former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma has two words for the
> >>>advocates of a Sovereign  National Conference in Nigeria: Forget it. To him,
> >>>convening such a forum would make the end of the country, an entity that he is
> >>>ready to defend with his last blood. Even at 73, Danjuma declared on Thursday in
> >>>Lagos, he is ready to take up arms to ensure that the oneness of the country is
> >>>not tampered with.
> >>>He describes a Sovereign National Conference as a trip to court to end a
> >>>marriage.
> >>> 
> >>>The Taraba State-born  retired Army General made the declaration in a lecture he
> >>>delivered on Thursday evening at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. The lecture was
> >>>organised by the eminent social club.
> >>>Danjuma said:“Many people are saying we  need to convene a National Conference
> >>>to determine our existence. But I disagree with them. I am scared of (a)
> >>>National Conference. Convening the National Conference country will be like
> >>>going to a court to separate a marriage. At my age, I am ready to go to war to
> >>>make Nigeria one great country.�
> >>>He also described the current National Assembly as the most expensive, least
> >>>productive in the history of the country
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>His words: “The enormity of their allowances  must be a genuine concern for
> >>>us.The frequent changes in the leadership is a point to this fact, They are
> >>>serving their own interest rather than the people who voted them into power.
> >>>They lack the will and if the current trend continues, we are going to be in
> >>>great problem in this country.�
> >>>Danjuma also used the occasion to express support for the candidature of Mallam
> >>>Nuhu  Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
> >>>(EFCC) as the next president. He cited the “track records� of Ribadu in the war
> >>>against corruption, which to him, has now reached “oceanic proportions.�
> >>>Danjuma said that Ribadu, a presidential aspirant of the Action Congress of
> >>>Nigeria (can) is the best man for the job in 2011.
> >>>He said: “I recommend Nuhu Ribadu to you. He will fight corruption to a
> >>>standstill. People must be held accountable. If not, they will get away with
> >>>murder literally. If there is no restitution, we are sweeping the probe under
> >>>the carpet because there is corruption of oceanic proportion in Nigeria.�
> >>>Danjuma also lambasted his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for
> >>>allegedly failing million of Nigerians at the latter’s second coming into power.
> >>>He said that the Obasanjo he knew in 1979 was not the one who presided over the
> >>>affairs of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
> >>>His words: “I was in the cabinet and I saw a totally different man. On so many
> >>>occasions, when memos were brought, we would be called to rubber stamp because
> >>>he had already given anticipatory approval.I strongly believed that Obasanjo was
> >>>going to deliver but he failed.�
> >>>To the former Chief of Army staff, the problems of Nigeria rest solely on lack
> >>>of good leadership, which he said explains why the nation has refused to move
> >>>forward, 50 years after independence. He added that one good person at the top
> >>>would turn the fortunes of the country around.
> >>>“The leadership problem is the issue. Leadership is very crucial to the survival
> >>>of any nation. I am an absolute believer that one right man or woman can make it
> >>>right in the life of a nation. Our country has so far been unlucky in this
> >>>aspect,� Danjuma noted.
> >>>On the myriad of problems bedevilling the nation, Danjuma said this is not the
> >>>time to apportion blames but to do something that would make the nation great in
> >>>the comity of nations.
> >>>His words: “This is not the time to condemn others for what we perceive as their
> >>>shortcomings. The nation has had so many of that.Whatever we have to offer, we
> >>>should offer. Whatever anyone has to say, let him say. Whatever anyone can do,
> >>>let him do.�
> >>>He continued: “The question is no longer what other persons have done or failed
> >>>to do but what we have done or are doing to uplift our country. That is my
> >>>expectation. The emphasis should be on what we can do for the nation, what we
> >>>can do for others. That is the only way forward. I do not agree with people who
> >>>keep quiet and say nothing about the problems of Nigeria. We must realise that
> >>>we have something to offer the nation, objectively, to take it proper place.
> >>>There are a lot of things to be corrected and it is our duty to correct them. I
> >>>do not agree with those who have become resigned with the situations and have
> >>>chosen to do nothing. The tenets of our country require radical change�
> >>>Danjuma noted that one of the major obstacles to creating progress on the part
> >>>of the citizens “is lack of confidence in ourselves and total absence of pride
> >>>in our country,� adding:  “Each and every one of us has something to offer the
> >>>nation and the world.�
> >>>He noted that it is good for a nation to have big dreams and to aim high “but we
> >>>must take care not to overshoot the targets. In dreaming dreams we must be
> >>>careful not to make fools of ourselves.�
> >>>He decried Nigerian’s lack of creativity even in the world of creative arts,
> >>>saying: “We equate the Nollywood film industry to Bollywood without blushing.�
> >>>Danjuma said that at this time “when the nation is rife with every kind of
> >>>factions and divisions, at a time when patriotism seems to be on the decline, I
> >>>cannot but commend men and women like you who are committed to peace, progress
> >>>and unity of the nation.� He added: “As you in this club place emphasis on the
> >>>things which unite us rather than things which divide you, so it ought to be for
> >>>our country.�
> >>>He argued that divided as Nigerians may seem to be, “the emphasis ultimately
> >>>shall be on the things which unite us,� adding: “I am confident that in spite of
> >>>all our differences, we shall come together in one strong united nation which
> >>>shall be an example in eyes of the world and a pride for the black race.�
> >>>He said the Nigeria of his dream should be a truly democratic and free nation,
> >>>transparently governed by knowledgeable, visionary, honest and pragmatic leaders
> >>>who are accountable to all our people and are economically self reliant nation,
> >>>where the majority of his people are gainfully employed.
> >>>Danjuma, who stated further that the Nigeria of his dream it one whose people
> >>>would have a sense of history and  respect for their cultural institutions,
> >>>added that he felt sorry that “ we have destroyed or are fast destroying one of
> >>>our most important cultural institutions, the village, at a time when we do not
> >>>have a substitute.�
> >>>He continued: “We have replaced our villages with slums and the conditions in
> >>>these slums have inhibited the cultivation of morals and given rise to all the
> >>>vices that we have to contend with now.
> >>>He wants the government at all levels  to fashion a programme which will enable
> >>>the millions of Nigerians who have migrated to the cities return to the
> >>>villages.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>By Bimbo Ogunnaike
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69183:im-ready-for-war-to-keep-nigerias-unity-danjuma&catid=43:news&Itemid=799
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>vin......///
> >>>        yesterdays thoughts are today's news
> >>>will keep blowing while relaxed.....they are listening
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

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