Nigeria: Obasanjo’s national dialogue: another brand of national deceit

One issue that has feverishly gripped the heart of the local and international media reports and commentaries on the political developments in Nigeria, in the past few weeks, is the Obasanjo regime's planned "National Political Reform Conference", otherwise known as "National Dialogue". The National Dialogue commenced last Monday, February 21. Although, the formal agenda for the conference was not released – even a few days prior to its commencement – government officials at the presidency indicated what would be discussed at the National Dialogue – which has been proposed over the last three months – when the sitting started in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Issues like fiscal policies, revenue allocation, federalism, types of political system at the centre and in the states, etc., are to be discussed. However, a no-go area for discussion is on the unity of Nigeria, which the government says is not negotiable. Similarly, the economic "reforms" of the government that are presently being carried out at the dictates of imperialism – as represented in the IMF and World Bank economic reform agenda for Nigeria – were not on the agenda. As far as the regime is concerned, the devastating on-going anti- worker and anti-poor reforms of the economy are a fait accompli.