Benin National Congress

26th June 2007

The Nigerian Union of Journalists,
Benin City.

Re: Government of National Unity- We commends Leaders of Opposition Political Parties.

Rising from an emergency meeting on the state of the nation in Benin City, the BNC resolved to commend the leaders of opposition political Parties for responding to President Umaru Yar Adua’s invitation for conscientious dialogue for the path of socio-economic and political recovery of our country, Nigeria. The Congress notes with Joy the enthusiasm on the part of the political leaders in forging a new course out of the socio-economic and political quagmire or harakiri (sucidal situation) in which the ex-president Obasanjo placed our dear country despite the unprecedented-huge revenues that accrued his government.

However, no matter how interested the opposition political leaders would be in collaborating or serving with the Yar Adua’s regime,they should be cautioned by Patriot and well meaning Nigerians alike not to negotiate-away the fundamental needs of Nigeria’s political stability and credibility and these needs include- restructuring of the nation through the convocation of a sovereign national conference that must encapsulate representatives of ethnic nationalities; the reform of the electoral system or process and at the same time ensuring that those who precipitated (foisted) the rigged 2007 elections on Nigerians are made to face the Law so that a strong precedent would have been established against all who may nurse rigging plot in future transition program.

We believe that most Nigerian politicians may take with a pitch of salt the agony and long-suffering that most electorates went through in the count-down to the April elections in their desperate bid to secure political appointments or contracts from the new government. It must be noted that the dearth of social values and norms are majorly caused by the loudly exhibited looting-spree on the part of the political class is largely responsible for the resort to “HARD WAY OR SHORT-CUT” by our youths. So the rise in social vices like robbery, oil bunkering, hostage-taking and prostitution by our youths is inadventently caused by questionable wealth of the political class and therefore in proffering conscientious solutions to the nation’s problems, the political class most importantly must shorn self interests and personal agandisement for national interests. If this virtue is imbibed by the new political class that is emerging, it would go a long way in reducing or eliminating the cynicism and dis-illusion on the part of the governed.

We appreciate the constraints on the part of the new president in imbibing truly progressive ideas in view of the perceived anti-people policies of the immediate past regime. Yet Nigerians greatly expects the new government to make a radical departure from such neo-colonial disposition and tendencies which saw Nigeria’s policies been dictated from abroad (the world BANK and IMF.)

If these bold steps are taken, patriotic ideas will flow at the door step of the Yar Adua’s administration like a River This is because Nigerians in their characteristic spirit of hard-work ,ingenuity and enterprise at home and abroad would step up for the new and genuine task of nation building.

The opposition leaders must not also negotiate away the quest by Nigerians to see that justice is done to the various election petitions at the various Tribunals and Court of Appeal across the country because everything must be done to strengthen our judiciary and rule of Law. The Congress salutes the doggedness of the judiciary in crushing the DO OR DIE tendencies of the Political class and their YESMEN who have been pepertuating political fraud on the nation’s body polity. In the last regime of Obasanjo the Legislature and the Executive greatly compromised on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. Only the Judiciary stood its ground or in the common sensical-parlance, they stood the side of the Nigerian People.

We watch closely.

Elder Amalawa Osarobo
Director of Publicity and Intelligence.