Africa: Does Nigeria Really Need a 'Sovereign National
Conference'?   In a few weeks, Nigerians across ethnic and
regional divides will be gathering at a roundtable to discuss
critical national issues. The imperative for this National
Conference as a necessary discussion over Nigeria's future was
underscored by the President, Goodluck Jonathan, in his
Independence Day commemoration address in October 2013. No
doubt, there is need for consensus among the country's distinct
ethnic and religious groups on critical governance issues such
as the structure of government, federalism, revenue
distribution, political representation and power sharing.
Whether the National Conference taking place this year is
capable of addressing Nigeria's perennial existential problems
is another question.  The clamour for a national dialogue among
Nigeria's over 350 ethno-linguistic groups has been as old as
the country itself, since the aftermath of the first military
coup in 1966. Frequently called a 'Sovereign National
Conference'