A former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has described as “worrisome” the widespread security challenges and killings in the country. Gowon, who attended a special prayer summit in Yenagoa, said he had prayed and hoped at the end of the Nigerian Civil War that the country would not go through that path again. He spoke with journalists shortly after a special church service in Yenagoa yesterday.
Gowon, chairman and convener of Nigeria Prays, said the activities of militant groups, the Boko Haram and the killings perpetrated by the ‘so called Fulani herdsmen’ were of serious concern to the leaders, elders and indeed, the citizens. He explained that the country’s leaders were having sleepless nights over the acts of brutality and wickedness across the country. Gowon called on Nigerians to give the requisite support to those in leadership positions in the bid to address the emergent security challenges in the country.
He said: “This is worrisome. When I recall the end of the civil war, I had hoped and prayed that Nigeria would never go through the same experience again. This was what I prayed for and you can see how worrying it is. “All these spate of crises: Is it the militants, is it the Boko Haram, is it the so-called Fulani herdsmen? All sorts of things that are happening; man’s inhumanity to man, that is happening throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. “Sadly, it is worrying to all Nigerians, and this is what all of us who are in leadership positions, your governor, and his assistants as well as all the governors throughout the country.
“All of us who are leaders are concerned about it, and always aim for whatever we can do to put it under control. But it is not only the leaders that can do it. They need the press and support of the people so that they can deal with the problem together. “And this is our prayer, prayer for everyone in Nigeria and all Nigerians wherever they are. We hope for greater peace than what we have for now.” Also speaking, Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said “Nigeria is seriously bleeding and divided more than ever.”
He said the continuous killings by suspected herdsmen across the country were symptomatic of a failed state. He said Nigerians must unite in prayers and resolve to work together to ensure fairness, justice, equity and equal citizenship. The governor lamented that the country is bleeding and urged leaders across the nation to take the responsibility to stop the bloodletting. “In this country, God’s children, human beings irrespective of the God they worship are being slaughtered mercilessly, remorselessly in many parts of the country. Our nation is bleeding; we must unite in prayers and resolve to do what is right and fair. Our nation should be a nation of fairness, justice, equity, equal citizenship and United by common ideals of being the greatest black nation,” he said. (NAN)
