Dialogue, panacea to our challenges – Sultan
We stand for One Nigeria, Labour tells ethnic jingoists
By Bode Olagoke, Moses John, Abuja and Sidi A. Umar, Sokoto
Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the recent agitations by different ethnic groups in the country were “a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system.”
They, however, called on all Nigerians, especially the leaders across the regions, to speak up against the upsurge of some people described as “irredentist movements” across all ethnic groups, saying “there has be a nation first.”
The governors said they would work with party leaders, the federal government and all Nigerians “who are committed to democratic development in all parts of the country to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the territorial boundary of our nation.”
In a statement issued by the Forum’s Director-General, Salihu Lukman, yesterday in Abuja, they insisted that that regardless of diverse identities and whatever differences, the country had to thrive.
The statement read in part: “Acknowledging the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, the PGF particularly notes that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation, as currently experienced, is a reflection of the prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria.
“PGF, therefore, calls for the rise of all decent voices across this country to speak up against the upsurge of some desperate irredentist movements across all ethnic groups and support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria for us all. The Forum insists that, regardless of our diverse identities and whatever differences, Nigeria has to thrive. Hence, ‘there has to be a Nation first.’
“While acknowledging that as a nation, we do have challenges, PGF believes that the resolution of those challenges rests with the development of our democracy and with it, the ascendency of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and invariably agreements. Some of the challenges are highlighted in the accompanied PGF Position – There has to be a Nation First. As Governors elected under the APC, we will work with our party leaders, the federal government and all Nigerians who are committed to democratic development in all parts of the country to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the territorial boundary of our nation.”
The APC governors said the challenge before all Nigerians, “therefore, is to commit ourselves to the unity of the country.”
“We must create, by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongues and localities.
This is the vision the APC as a party that is committed to lead and for which the PGF is unapologetically and intrinsically loyal. These threats to national unity must cease totally and put away into history.”
In a related development, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that dialogue remained the only plausible panacea to the country’s myriad of challenges.
He stated this Wednesday night in Sokoto, when he hosted some religious groups, resident communities and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to a Ramadan dinner.
He said: “There is no problem in the world that dialogue cannot solve. Crises are not unique to Nigeria. We should sit down, discuss issues and problems, as well as see where we have gone wrong and what went wrong.
“We should see where we have derailed and retrace our steps, then move forward as a single, indivisible country. There is no problem without a solution and there is no padlock made without keys to open it. It remains for us to see how to open it.”
Abubakar further lamented that the level of patriotism in the country was very low and admonished Nigerians to develop their country as nobody would do it for them.
The monarch also said Nigerians were eager to live in peace and unity with one another, irrespective of religious, political and ethnic colourations.
“We must all strive to develop Nigeria into a country based on justice, fair-play and respect for one another. Above all, we need the fear of God, as with the fear of God, you find things going right. God is the Alpha and Omega.
“The fear of God is key to solving all our problems. Nigerians are very religious people and we have various Mosques and Churches.”
On recurring farmers/herdsmen’s clashes, Abubakar said those causing mayhem were strangers and urged that those perpetrating crimes should be treated as criminals.
Further noting that challenges were meant to solidify the nation’s unity, Abubakar underscored the need for Nigerians to trust one another.
“We are all created by God and we should help one another, although we should hold our identities, with respect for one another. If we do not understand our differences, we will never live in peace, when there is suspicion, there will be no trust and there will be no unity.”
Abubakar commended the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for initiating the series of wide consultations as a way out to calm frayed nerves.
He assured that the traditional institution would continue to work relentlessly for the country to remain peaceful, united and indivisible.
A cross-section of speakers at the event lauded the Sultan for the perennial gesture, describing him as “a peace maker and a bridge builder.”
Also, the Organised Labour yesterday warned those fanning the embers of war, saying that the Movement was for one indivisible Nigeria.
Reacting to threats and counter-threats of pulling down the federation, it said “such act symbolise the intensity of greed, the implacable arrogance and desperation of the elite, some of whom have been funding or sponsoring the hate campaigns.”
In a joint press briefing, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its Civil Society allies, insisted that “these persistent hot exchanges and attacks tend to threaten the very foundation and integrity of our sovereignty and unity, therefore, do not represent the true feelings of patriotic Nigerians.”
President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said Nigerians must rise against such hate speeches “because those individuals are enemies of the masses.”
He said: “We urge all Nigerians – progressives or conservatives, men and women and of whatever faith and ethnicity – to stand up with one voice and fight those promoting division on the basis of primordial affinity. They do it not for the good of the community, but for their vested interests.
“Let us, therefore, not allow them to use poor Nigerian workers, Pensioners and peasants as cannon fodders for their selfish interests. The desperate but vocal few cannot and should not be allowed to speak for the majority of us
“We speak out today as a pan-Nigeria organisation that believes in the sovereignty and indissolubility of ONE NIGERIA!”
Continuing, he said: “We speak out because we are not persuaded by the base arguments that a fragmented Nigeria best suits any of our members!
“We speak out because a physical conflict will hurt us all; most particularly workers, Pensioners and their families who will be the most direct and immediate casualties.
“Labour has over the decades stood for ONE NIGERIA, right from our founding fathers who were in the frontline of the struggle for independence through our leaders who led the masses to fight against imposition of neo-liberal policies by military dictatorships which have culminated in the prevailing hardship that Nigerians from all corners – North, South, East and West are facing.
“We are still committed to these values that our forebears were committed to and we call on all committed patriots, young and old, to join the struggle against the myriad of social and economic injustices that occasioned the deprivations which have set our people in dangerous agitations against one another in the social, print and electronic media.”
Also speaking, the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said dialogue remained the most tested and result-oriented form of conflict resolution mechanism and should be given full rein.
He urged Nigerians not to fight one another, “instead must all resolve to face the corrupt political class, who instead of utilising the God-endowed wealth of our nation, choose to loot it for themselves and their children thereby depriving us of decent living and inflicting on us a scarred collective psychology that is predominantly negative, hostile and unproductive.”
“In our estimation, most of the issues in contention can be resolved through good governance, sustainable and transparent fight against corruption and addressing inequities and injustice in the system,” h
