Thank God that at least these three finally have agreed that they are just interested in the interest and welfare of the north and never Nigeria. This is a situation where the interest of the north no matter what it is must be imposed on the rest of the other Nigerians whether they like it or not. And where you disagree with the greedy and selfish agenda of the north, you will be labelled as working against the unity of Nigeria; And the military dorminated and controlled by the north will be called in to do to you exactly what they did to Odi. Nigeria will never attain gratness with people that place selfish and ethnic interest above national interest. May God curse the day Lord Lugard was born because he never meant well for the black man.

I am happy to note that Mr. Atiku and Gen. Buhari have agreed to bury their hatchet, and to shelve their political ambitions to become president, at all costs I might add. Whenever someone dares to become anything at all cost, it gets troubling in the eyes of the general public. The question any intelligent person would ask is: Why would anyone want to become anything at all cost? Apart from the benefits of influence derived from the job of becoming president, and the exorbitant salary that is paid, plus retirement packages, and speaking fees, what other incentive is there to cause one to become "this thing" at all cost?

The most troubling thing about this article is the oft repeated phrase of "the utmost interest of the North". How about the interest of Nigeria as a whole? Why the geographical differentiation? How about the interest of the poor, the down-trodden, the hapless majority of nigerian citizens who go about their daily lives surviving on less than one dollar per day? Must political and developmental interests of the nation be looked at in terms of geographical proportionment of poorly trained, but influential chieftains? Whatever happened to a political party selecting a qualified presidential candidate who appeals to all Nigerians regardless of his tribe or ethnicity, or the region he/she hails from? We often do the nation a disservice if we limit ourselves to issues of geography in selecting the best qualified candidate for the job of leading Nigeria out of political darkness.

There shall come a time when Nigerians would grow tired of listening to these political haggards who flaunt their ill-gotten wealth through the mass media in attempts to cause others to vote them to office. These class of desperate people often buy votes, and where they feel their money could no-longer accomplish these feats, the rally round the "Area Boys" to intimidate reluctant voters into submission or face torture. These people concentrate their stock-in-trade mainly in the Niger Delta where they know full well that the Niger Deltans disagree among themselves, and lack the ability to present a National Candidate" for any major political office. But, as problematic as issues pertaining to their environment is, they would rally round anyone from the North or the West for national political offices, and would never support anyone from their region. So, it is not surprising to witness that Northern Politicians see them as "political football" because they have been ideologically divided and have been taught to disagree among themselves, and have therefore, being conquered.

Whereas, the survival of the Nation depended on the yields from Crude Oil and Gas from the Niger Delta region, politicians from distant places would now begin their honeybee dance towards the pollen so as to gather enough victims for cross-pollination so as to yet again, ferterlize those who could care less about them. This has become a vicious cycle which the Niger Deltans have cared not to recognize. And frankly, carrying weapons and brandishing them as a viable response to our modern day political reality is an insult to those of us who understand that the type of change we need is not one that is prone to violence. The New Political Reality is one that should not involve hollow statements being made by political demagogues who for some reason, want to see their voices heard, and names printed in daily newspapers, only to be bought off by the highest bidder from either the North or the West.

Gone are the days when we had thoughtful and dedicated planners like the former Attorney-General of the Federation - Dr. Napoleon Graham-Douglas, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Brig-General Samuel Ogbemudia, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr. Okoi Arikpo, and even Chief Obafami Awolowo under the banner of the Action Group. These were titans who fought for minority rights, and did so with a natural passion. The lip service we receive today from both the North and the West are just that: lip service. You vote them into power, they throw you under the bus and crush you to death, and would laugh you and your people to scorn because of your gullibility. It wasn't enough that the minority areas suffered terribly under the Eastern Nigerian Government, the level of discrimination they faced was responsible for the total disregard to the development of the entire Niger Delta. Today, we are reaping the results of these neglect. And still 49-years after Independence, we are still waiting to see someone either from the North or the West to rise up and speak on our behalf, even though we are feeding the entire nation with the yield from our natural resources.

I would strongly suggest that the next electioneering exercise in 2011 should witness a new dynamic in political posturing. We would have no one to blame but ourselves if we do not wake up to smell the coffee. The unification of both Buhari and Atiku is a good thing for Nigeria. But, for these political weasels to seek sustenance from the Niger Delta in their quest for the highest office in Nigeria, we must try not be used as pawns. It is believed that Mr. Atiku now has a University in the North, probably from the funds he accumulated while he was the head of Customs in Nigeria or as Vice-President under Gen. Obasanjo. There are still funds unaccounted for while he was in office as Vice-President, especially through the Petroleum Trust Fund. Each of these people have enriched themselves from elective offices. Nigeria is the ONLY country in the world where politicians loot the Treasury with impunity. Usually investigations are conducted, and usually, the results of such investigations either are quashed or die a natural death in the Senate. The reason being, every politician is corrupt, and no one would like to see the other's graft industrial endeavours washed in the public. So, they turn the other cheek, while the general public wait in anticipation for results of a sometimes, over-blown investigation about a road to nowhere. Our retention of political events is characterized by impermanence, and we tend to forget too easily because we are terribly saddled with the struggles to survive on a daily basis, and the politicians know these weaknesses and are doing everything possible to capitalize on this. I do hope the general public should attempt to become weary of this gamesmanship, and begin to confront politicians on their real plans for the country,not about their personal interests.

It should not matter that Buhari and Atiku are re-aligning forces to become relevant again and not fade out politically. The issue is not about the North neither is it about the masses that have been impoverished by years of unimaginative government policies some of which they were responsible for. Atiku should use some of the wealth he has acquired to help his immediate community while Buhari as a former president should devote his time to other positive community social work.

Political relevance should not be sought on the pedestal of regional or religious sentiments. Nigeria is one country and not North and South Nigeria. We must collectively reject political parties founded on narrow regional interest.

What do Femi Falana, Buhari and Atiku of all people have in common.