Based on the reports available, the performance of delegates from the North at the confab is reassuring. They did very well to ensure that the interests of their people are well articulated and canvassed. They demonstrated the highest level of political sagacity and an excellent understanding of our socio-political setup vis-à-vis the need for unity in the quest of common good. Their performance is, to say the least fantastic. It reminds me of the stories of our first republic politicians who in spite of apparent disadvantages compared to their contemporaries were able to get what is due to us without shortchanging others. They achieved all that due mainly to the fact that they never allowed primordial sentiments to divide them. They know right away that unity should come first before any successful struggle. They were quite aware of the facts that certain issues-religion and tribalism can always be used to keep them apart so as to shortchange their unsuspecting people. They believed and rightly so that the essence of education is to impact positively on the well-being of people using everything at your disposal. And that good representation forms the bedrock for any future arrangement geared at ensuring justice and fair play. At the beginning of the conference some of us became scared as to the quality of our representatives based on the behaviors of our political leaders and for the following reasons; · Widening educational gap between North and South and the fear that our governors may select those not conversant with the intricacies in the polity and the demands of the people. · Economic disparity between North and South leading to confused citizenry who are at the mercy of charlatans masquerading as political leaders. · The general susceptibility to intimidation by our elites as seen from the way the bogey of power shift gained currency and acceptability without looking at the inherent dangers to democracy and our match to nationhood. · Externally induced and encouraged sectarian crises used by elites to satisfy their narrow selfish interests at the detriment of the people. These further divide our ranks and put us at greater disadvantage in the quest for effective and unified approach to issues of mutual concern. It is gratifying to note that the loud cries of apparent skewed representation was downplayed. This helped to cool frayed nerves and provided an amenable way to look dispassionately at our common objectives in the Nigeria project. For some of us who were opportune to study outside our areas and thus related very intimately with people from other parts of the country especially Northerners we are confident that with sudden turn of events things will work out fine. And so it did.

It is noteworthy that some areas of the North harbor both Muslims and Christians and they used to live a rancor free life. We have a lot in common due to a number of historical linkages that existed between the component units prior to the coming of colonialists. If you see any problem it can always be traced to our leaders who benefited from the legacies left by our past leaders and decided to abandon us midstream for their parochial and selfish interests. Also in 1985 we became saddled with leadership that succeeded in destroying our unity and our good standing among other Nigerians. Their actions caused incalculable damage and landed us in deep mess. They succeeded in debasing our moral and religious values, pauperized our citizens through their economic policies and heightened our mutual distrust of one another. The North in particular and Nigeria in general never had it so bad. But we are thankful to God almighty for the wonderful performance of our representatives-whatever its worth. In the long run posterity will be on their side.

One of the key strategies in war is to be proactive and never allow oneself to be outwitted. The contributions of the likes of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Adamu Adamu and a host of others doused tension. They have done well in articulating the need to work together for our common good. This also applies to delegates from the 19 Northern States who decided to work with others to reach consensus on a number of issues.

The great historical movements-Sokoto Caliphate, Kanem-Borno Empire, Kwararrafa kingdom and Hausa city-states are the proud legacies left by our ancestors. We should do everything to ensure that they are used in uniting us. It should always be borne in mind that united we stand divided we fall. Our firm resolves to pursue our common goals with a measure of dexterity and an uncommon political sagacity will stand us in good stead anywhere, anytime. Our diversity should always serve to strengthen us the more. We have done it before. We are doing it now and this should be encouraged at all times. This is because Nigeria cannot survive with a disunited North. We should ensure that anybody looking for leadership should represent our fine values of uprightness, honesty, integrity, fairness and above all concern for the flight of the downtrodden. Our well-known cliché of monolithic North should be revived. Never again should we be intimidated in to accepting the strange concept of power shift. If we are keen on practicing democracy let us do it the right way. I am happy that the shift is between North and South based on agreement at the political party level and not on the basis of the so-called geo-political zones. Subsequently we should put a stop to power shift.    

Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, No. 5, Ningi Road, Federal Low Cost, Bauchi. e-mail:bgabdullahi@yahoo.com