Chief Asara Asara Aki IX
is the paramount ruler of Obanema of Akipelai kingdom in Bayelsa
State and a member of the National Conference. He explains in this
interview why President Goodluck Jonathan should not be blamed for the
insecurity in the country. Excerpts:
Initial fears about the Confab are that it will lead to the country’s break up. Would you say the fear has been dispelled?
The confab is moving forward as expected, because you know in the president’s inaugural speech, he made a statement on the two things that we must not discuss; the indivisibility and the unity of this country, but to me I feel the other way, because even if it is a marriage, as husband and wife, you have to discuss, you have to meet your fiancĂ©e, speak to her, convince her, then she will assess you, look at your qualities, then she will accept you. But in the case of Nigeria, there is nothing like that. They just got up one day, and one white man who has finished taking tea called the people and said you are together, and the people have been managing themselves until now and therefore, there is need to discuss.
The confab is moving forward as expected, because you know in the president’s inaugural speech, he made a statement on the two things that we must not discuss; the indivisibility and the unity of this country, but to me I feel the other way, because even if it is a marriage, as husband and wife, you have to discuss, you have to meet your fiancĂ©e, speak to her, convince her, then she will assess you, look at your qualities, then she will accept you. But in the case of Nigeria, there is nothing like that. They just got up one day, and one white man who has finished taking tea called the people and said you are together, and the people have been managing themselves until now and therefore, there is need to discuss.
