Nigerian Former Head
of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Rev. Father Hassan Matthew Kukah
yesterday in Abuja took a swipe at the political elite
promoting hate speeches
and calling for a break-up of the country.
They
however, commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for taking proactive steps to
nip the divisive rhetorics and separatist sentiments in the bud.A statement on
the state of the nation signed by Abubakar who is Chairman and Kukah, Convener
of the National Peace Committee said the developments are of serious concern to
the peace committee.
They
commended the Acting President for engaging with leaders of influence across
the North and Southeast in bid to check the rise of mutual hostility and
tension that have been stoked by elements from various parts of the country.
They
appealed to more voices of leadership, reason and moderation from all
communities in the country to reinforce the message of Osinbajo. The two
leaders noted that: “We’ve recently come to the end of the holy month of
Ramadan, for millions of Nigerians, a time of spirituality, introspection and
the request for God’s forgiveness. Therefore, there could be no better time
than now as a nation for us all to be thoughtful, deliberate and make ourselves
worthy of divine mercy, especially in the atmosphere of a steep rise in
divisive and hateful rhetoric in our country.”
They
observed that “we cannot afford at this or any other time to stoke the fires of
hate and divisiveness in our body politics especially when ordinary Nigerians
are engaged in difficult struggles to secure their livelihood, amidst rising
insecurity and increasing fear.”
In many
parts of the country, the committee noted that mass killings go unpunished and
unresolved, inter-communal clashes have become chronic, adding that economic
deprivations and growing social exclusion and feelings of alienation,
particularly among the youths are being exploited by segments of the elite with
potentially dangerous and painful consequences for us all.
The
statement acknowledged that the drums of rising division also reflect the
perceptions by citizens that there is poor governance in Nigeria today. It
blamed politicians who have failed in delivering on the mandate of the
electorate for better livelihood and neighbourhood for teaming up with
advocates of division and hate.
The duo
stated that in many parts of the country, young people who have been left
without means of livelihood or hope in their future have become converts to
radicalisation preached by those it described as demagogues who resort to
various guises including ethnicity and religion.
The National
Peace Committee called on State governments to commit to developing their
people and rely less on Abuja to fund their consumption through monthly
allocations.
The duo in
the statement encouraged Prof. Osinbajo and the Federal Government to remain
steadfast in the steps they are taking to reassure all communities and citizens
of equal stake holding in the Nigerian project insisting that Nigerians need an
effective state they call their own.
To reinforce
the unity of the country, they appealed that on-going efforts to reach out to
leaders from various parts of the country should be broadened into honest
dialogue with all segments of the Nigerian population to ensure that ordinary
citizens get the opportunity to convey their views to government at the highest
levels and get carried along in the formulation and implementation of
government policies.
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