A University lecturer and pioneer Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, CPSS, University of Ilorin, Prof Isaac Albert, has observed that nothing meaningful would come out of the on-going National Conference unless the delegates and Nigerians in general have a change of attitude.

The university don added that, “The first thing that must take place is that there must be attitudinal change. Those of us who call ourselves leaders of this country must positively change our attitude. We must accept ourselves; we must have respect for other people. If there is no change in attitude, there is no way we are actually going to make the best of that conference.”

Prof. Albert who is also a delegate to the National Conference, stated this at the weekend at the opening ceremony of the 8th International Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, SPSP, held at the University of Ilorin.

In his lecture entitled: “The Challenges of Nation Building,” Prof. Albert said, “At the end of the conference, we might come up with wonderful ideas on how the constitution should change, how we should share our revenue, how local government should be managed as well.

“If we have the documents reflecting all these ideals and our attitudes and leaders are not positively changed and we still cheat other people, mismanage the resources, promote hatred for other people the nation will remain stagnant.”

He also expressed concern over the recent fracas at the conference over salutations, noting that if stakeholders at the conference are not in agreement on how to greet, how will they agree on how  to build a nation.

“We are yet to discuss revenue sharing formula; who will be the president; how to manage our local governments among numerous issues confronting the country. We are quarreling on how to greet. That is how problematic the whole thing is.

“Conference rules of proceedings is another problem the delegates will face, saying, “It was the most disturbing among the ground rules, that before any resolution can be passed or accepted there must be 75 percent members’ support, which means you need 26 percent ‘spoilers’ to get  a decision not done. That is my fear for the conference”.

Prof. Albert however urged participants at the Conference to see it as their own national conference where the future of Nigeria is going to be discussed through the evaluation of the 100 years of inter-group relationship in Nigeria” and make recommendations on how to make Nigeria a better country.