The Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Mustapha threatened to walk out of the on-going National conference if pushed to the wall.
Former Governor of Borno State Mohammed Goni believed that the traditional ruler could not have meant the statement the way it was perceived, Mrs. Daisy Danjuma urged Nigerians to be patient and await the outcome the of the conference.
Sir Ajayi, an elder statesman, who is representing the Southwest geo-political zone on the platform of socio-political/cultural and ethnic nationality groups, said he was not surprised by the pronouncement of the monarch.
He said: “I am not particularly surprised because since 1947, until our independence, the northern leaders have always been threatening secession or walking out and the British people always begged them and giving them what they want.
“For instance, the first general conference held in Ibadan in 1950, the North came with four demands and if not granted they would walk our.
“The demands were parity of the membership of the House of Representatives with the South; that is, whatever bill they brought to the House they will win because the North controls the House.
“Secondly, they want the revenue of the country to be shared on per capital basis, because they have been given the impression that they were more in number than the people of the South put together.
“Three, they said the boundary between the North and the South should not be adjusted, that is Ilorin, Kabba and other towns, on that axis would continue to be part of the North.
“Lastly, they want Lagos to cease to be part of Nigeria. Little, by little the North got all they demanded for, which became, the undoing of Nigeria because that was what led to the first military coup.
“The reality is that, and which is very worrrisome, is the statement and then the attitude of the chairman, who failed to stop him making comments on a subject that was not on the table.
“He was supposed to have ruled him out of order.
“I think this as probably an agenda that could have been the result of series of meetings overnight or since we got here, otherwise. What he was saying and what he was allowed to say were not good, considering what we are here for.
“I am highly disappointed by this, coming from a reputable former Chief Justice of Nigeria to have allowed the monarch to say what he said.”
Opadokun said the statement was uncalled for, as Adamawa is in Nigeria on the magnanimity of the people of Nigerians.
He said: “It’s an unfortunate statement because we should be talking about issues that bring us together and not the ones that separate us.
“It’s even more unfortunate because his comment was not on what was on the debate as at that time. Even when the Chairman called him to order, he continued to make that damaging statement.
“Saying that he has a place to go should the country disintegrate, he must be reminded that his living in Nigeria was at the instance of the good people of Nigeria, spearheaded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who fought Cameroon to the United Nations.
“I believe this conference is going to achieve the desired result for this country, but not at the expense of our rights to be happy staying together. In other words, we would not allow anyone to impose conditions on us.
“We can persuade people, persuade ourselves because there is a lot of joy living together. But, if your coming together will cause some injustice, people will resist.”
Goni believed Lamido could not have meant the statement the way it was perceived.
According to him, the threat could be a reaction to the helplessness experienced by his subjects over security challenges and the seeming inability of Federal and state governments to stem the insurgencies.
He also doubted that the threat would be carried out because to convince others would be impossible.
His words: “I don’t think it is strongly meant because, in his view, he knew it can not be binding on other people. I want to believe that the statement was made as a result of pressure of the lingering security challenges being faced by the people of his area.
“You know, this is a place where killings occur almost on daily basis and the frustration of seeing that government efforts have not been able to stop the killings.
“In other words, I see it as just a statement made on the spur of the moment. I don’t think he meant it. Moreover, we have been together in this country and since the Constitution Conference of 1979, which I attended and subsequent ones, it has always been made clear that the unity of this country can not be compromised.
“Moreover, even if he wants to stage a walkout, it won’t succeed because a consensus must be reached by the political leaders and others in his area of influence for that to be carried out.
“In other words, the traditional ruler would have to convince political leaders and other state actors from the local government level in his area to the top and I don’t think that is easy.
“That statement was just the voicing out of frustration of the challenges his community is facing and the seeming hopelessness of the situation.”
To Mrs Danjuma, the statement is of no importance and should not be taken seriously.
She said the statement was not binding on the conference and that rather than let tempers flare, people should wait for the outcome of the conference.
“At the end of the day, we will come to a compromise, that is after everybody might have expressed their fears,” Mrs Danjuma said.
Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, leader of Southeast delegation: “In the end, we have a united country that has decided not to break up, one that supports the structure of governance that support progress, fairness and justice.
“That outburst, I will rather compartmentalise it to the Lamido and Adamawa State. First, I am disappointed that he was not able to hold his anger and I am sure he would regret it now.
“I also don’t believe that he is saying in effect that he is Cameroonian, warning that if things really go bad, he has a place to run to”.
On the 49-member committee to deliberate on the stalemate voting method.
“Yes. I would rather put it this way that most of us here are those who ran the country to where we are today and it’s best for those people who ran the country aground, so to say, to correct themselves and ensure that we have a better country.
“I have a strong believe, that at the end of the day, we will have a stronger and better country”.
Femi Falana: “There are 492 delegates here, brought here from all walks of life and you must expect all manners of contributions. Including not so bright contributions.
“The only unfortunate thing from the proceeding so far, is the tendency of the secretariat to recycle those who brought Nigeria to her knees considering the composition of the 49- member committee that has just been drawn up.
“The same people of expired ideas, who have fixations about Nigeria. It’s not about the Nigerian youth or women, one can just imagine a committee of 49 people with only three women and no youth.
“Anyway, as they are consulting, we are also consulting, so that we do not allow those whose ideas led Nigeria to her kneels to dictate the pace here. Enough is enough.
“We are ready to listen to them. What are the criteria for picking them. You can’t pick people with regional ideas while people with pan Nigerian mandate are there. Many people are here to maintain and sustain the dangerous status quo but the majority of the committed delegates are anxious to have a new Nigeria on the basis of progressive ideas.
“How do you ask those who led to the collapse to come and reorganise it. I expect people to be remorseful and when called to speak, decline and say let others talk but that is when someone can say his territory extends to Cameroon”.
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Lamido of Adamawa under verbal attack over threat to walk out of National Conference
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