Permit me to start by noting as I had done in an earlier piece that 'we all must at this point move beyond mere condemnation take collective decisive steps as people in collaboration with security agencies to bring this national shame and threat to our existence as a people to an end. More than ever before, it should be realised that security is a collective responsibility beyond those statutorily engaged, given that those who currently make life a bleak episode are members of our villages and communities. We must report to security agencies the presence of, and activities of these people even though the manner and circumstance of the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, an important prime suspect responsible for the Christmas day bombing has left sour taste in the mouth of all Nigerians with its attendant national shame and dent on the police without prejudice to diligent and hard working officers and men of the Nigeria Police. It is in our best collective interest as people to arrest all such actions now, for the same reasons that Somalians and Afghans, now scattered all over the world should have done early enough to stem the drift in their countries. We must all examine ourselves as a people and as a country, ask deeper questions regarding how we got to the position where extremists with polarising positions take center stage in our national discourse and the dystopia which this may lead us to as a people'.It is necessary to ask the same questions regarding how the MEND and other militant South-South groups, as well as the MASSOB came to take center stage as stakeholder representatives of the South-South and South East. The same phenomenology spurred five army majors and their cohorts to embark on the extreme course of violence to stem the divisive activities of politicians who are unable to see beyond their narrow interests, and to view Nigeria from a progressive symbol of strength for the prosperity of all.That phenomenon lies in the persistent penchant to shy away from national dialogue on strengthening Nigeria to reflect the true aspirations of Nigerians as against the primordial superstructure constructed for colonial administrative convenience. Time changes with new demands; the aspirations and demands of generation of Nigerians in the 1950s are not the same of Nigerians of today.This is a reality that we must accept in order for us to meet the demands of our time. By avoiding collective negotiations and aspirations through a national dialogue, we drive the true stakeholders of the federating units of Nigeria to the margins and allow the polarizing elements from the fringes to take center stage.But for the consistency of the Yorubas, unarguably the most sophisticated nationality, It has become a recurrent proclivity for people in Nigeria from different parts of the country, who by different acts found themselves within the corridors of power to fall into a delusion, where they see themselves as replacement landlords, and quasi-inheritors of the British empire, rather than care-takers on behalf of Nigerians. Such quasi-inheritors develop an indescribable phobia for conversations of change about the Nigerian status.This latter phobia and delusion inebriated the politicians until the five majors struck on January 15th 1966, the same emotions intoxicated the Abacha government into killing the Ogoni five. In the same vein, marginalization of the leading voices of the Igbos led to groups like MASSOB who now speak on behalf of members of the intelligentsia like Chinua Achebe, prof. Nwabueze and other great men of the lgbo nation some of whom now members of parliament in the United Kindom. For the same reason since 1993 the genuine and committed spokespersons of different nationalities, like the Nupe, the Gwaris, Urhobos, Idoma's, Efiks, Itsekiris, Kanuris, and others have been driven to the margins by trench combatants, installed by the quasi-inheritors who have taken over the political space bent only on self enrichment and self protection rather than the development of our communities. It is therefore not surprising that such marginalized groups will easily find voice and give loyalty to the seductive jingoism of polarizing groups seeking exit from the existing administrative superstructure.At this point of apparent dislocation, it is imperative for us to be brave, to confront our realities and to seek a collective accord through a national dialogue or conference where all, including sponsors of Boko Haram could come out openly and put all demands on the table and in the spirit of give and take, come to a consensus for a just, fair and equitable united federation that would usher in a new charter that we shall collectively defend whenever threatened by any group. This is the only part way and roadmap for a rebirth of Nigeria, a new Nigeria where there would be opportunty for all and responsibility from all.Unless and until will are able to rise above our differences, see these differences as sources of strength, allowing the panoply of the representatives of the collective interest of the people to come to the center stage, the vacuum created by shying away from national dialogue will remain a playground for the voices from the fringes like BOKO HARAM that have occupied the center stage of our national discourse, voices that will continue to polarise us, because we have not found the will to meet ourselves in the middle. If we refuse to meet, they will help to tear us apart. May we all not regret a collective failure to act to save Nigeria now.Barrister Mike Igini is Resident Electoral Commissioner in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
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