The Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar led National Peace Committee
yesterday x-rayed developments in the polity and listed six steps
to “save the country from danger”.
In a statement titled: “A call for restraint”, signed by
Gen. Abubakar and Catholic Bishop Hassan Kukah, the committee urged
Nigerians not to stoke the fires of hate and
divisiveness.
The steps are:
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 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;
government should urgently work with the private and voluntary
sectors to put in place measures to address the crisis of skills
and jobs as key vectors of radicalisation;
the federal government should review, update and enforce all
laws relating to citizenship in Nigeria to ensure the equality of
all under the law;
the government should consult on the possibility of examining
the reports of the Political Reforms Conference of 2005 and other
National Conferences as basis for further and continuing dialogue
on co-existence among communities in Nigeria;
politicians should deny support to groups that express disdain
for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians;
support for the position of government on the need to ensure
effective enforcement of laws that prohibit hate and divisive
speeches that constitute a threat to our constitutional and
collective right to live in a democracy founded on free
expression.
The committee advised politicians not to support groups that
harbour disdain for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
It also asked the government to consider the report of the 2005
political reforms and those of other national conferences as basis
for further dialogue on co-existence among Nigerians.
The committee however recommended six steps to save the nation
from danger.
The committee praised Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo for
engaging with leaders of influence across the South-East and North
to check tension in the country.
The statement said: “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.
“It is indeed, the appropriate time to underscore the imperative
of peaceful co-existence of all communities and all Nigerians.
“We cannot afford at this or any other time to stoke the fires
of hate and divisiveness in our body politic especially when
ordinary Nigerians are engaged in difficult struggles to secure
their livelihood, amidst rising insecurity and increasing
fear.”
The nation, the committee noted, has lost many Nigerians to
violence and mass killings, adding that there should be no further
plunge into ethnic conflict.
It said: “We have lost too many of our citizens to random and
diverse acts of violence, have many more maimed for life or living
in displacement.
“Tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by conflict
and millions of our fellow citizens now face threats of starvation
in the face of rising food insecurity.
“In many parts of the country, mass killings go unpunished and
unresolved, inter-communal clashes have become chronic, 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.
“These developments are sources of serious concern for the
Nigeria Peace Committee. We know, of course that we are not alone
in our worries and would like to commend the Acting President,
Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, SAN, GCON, for engaging with leaders of
influence across the South-East and North in a bid to check the
rise of mutual hostility and tension that have been stoked by
elements from parts of the country.
“Nonetheless, the National Peace Committee appeals to further
voices of leadership, reason and moderation from all communities in
the country to reinforce the message of the Acting President.”
But the committee attributed the renewed divisive politics to
poor governance.
It added: “In this regard, the National Peace Committee
acknowledges that the drums of rising division also reflect the
perceptions by our citizens that there is poor governance in
Nigeria today.
“Politicians who have failed in delivering on the mandate of the
electorate for better livelihoods and neighbourhoods have, instead,
found common cause with advocates of division and hate.
“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 demagogues in various guises
including ethnicity and religion.
“At this time in Nigeria, more than ever before, we need
government at all levels, which work for the people, with
commitment to respect for the rule of law and to the security and
well wellbeing of persons and communities in the country.
“We also need credible institutions, an economy that guarantees
a fair deal and outcome for hardworking people, better physical
infrastructures and an enabling environment in which citizens can
thrive.
“ The National Peace Committee therefore calls on state
governments to commit to developing their own people more and
relying less on Abuja to fund their consumption through monthly
allocations.”
The committee urged Prof. Osinbajo to remain steadfast in his
effort to reassure all communities and citizens of equal stake in
the country.
The Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar led National Peace Committee
yesterday x-rayed developments in the polity and listed six steps
to “save the country from danger”.
In a statement titled: “A call for restraint”, signed by
Gen. Abubakar and Catholic Bishop Hassan Kukah, the committee urged
Nigerians not to stoke the fires of hate and
divisiveness.
The steps are:
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 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;
government should urgently work with the private and voluntary
sectors to put in place measures to address the crisis of skills
and jobs as key vectors of radicalisation;
the federal government should review, update and enforce all
laws relating to citizenship in Nigeria to ensure the equality of
all under the law;
the government should consult on the possibility of examining
the reports of the Political Reforms Conference of 2005 and other
National Conferences as basis for further and continuing dialogue
on co-existence among communities in Nigeria;
politicians should deny support to groups that express disdain
for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians;
support for the position of government on the need to ensure
effective enforcement of laws that prohibit hate and divisive
speeches that constitute a threat to our constitutional and
collective right to live in a democracy founded on free
expression.
The committee advised politicians not to support groups that
harbour disdain for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
It also asked the government to consider the report of the 2005
political reforms and those of other national conferences as basis
for further dialogue on co-existence among Nigerians.
The committee however recommended six steps to save the nation
from danger.
The committee praised Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo for
engaging with leaders of influence across the South-East and North
to check tension in the country.
The statement said: “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.
“It is indeed, the appropriate time to underscore the imperative
of peaceful co-existence of all communities and all Nigerians.
“We cannot afford at this or any other time to stoke the fires
of hate and divisiveness in our body politic especially when
ordinary Nigerians are engaged in difficult struggles to secure
their livelihood, amidst rising insecurity and increasing
fear.”
The nation, the committee noted, has lost many Nigerians to
violence and mass killings, adding that there should be no further
plunge into ethnic conflict.
It said: “We have lost too many of our citizens to random and
diverse acts of violence, have many more maimed for life or living
in displacement.
“Tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by conflict
and millions of our fellow citizens now face threats of starvation
in the face of rising food insecurity.
“In many parts of the country, mass killings go unpunished and
unresolved, inter-communal clashes have become chronic, 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.
“These developments are sources of serious concern for the
Nigeria Peace Committee. We know, of course that we are not alone
in our worries and would like to commend the Acting President,
Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, SAN, GCON, for engaging with leaders of
influence across the South-East and North in a bid to check the
rise of mutual hostility and tension that have been stoked by
elements from parts of the country.
“Nonetheless, the National Peace Committee appeals to further
voices of leadership, reason and moderation from all communities in
the country to reinforce the message of the Acting President.”
But the committee attributed the renewed divisive politics to
poor governance.
It added: “In this regard, the National Peace Committee
acknowledges that the drums of rising division also reflect the
perceptions by our citizens that there is poor governance in
Nigeria today.
“Politicians who have failed in delivering on the mandate of the
electorate for better livelihoods and neighbourhoods have, instead,
found common cause with advocates of division and hate.
“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 demagogues in various guises
including ethnicity and religion.
“At this time in Nigeria, more than ever before, we need
government at all levels, which work for the people, with
commitment to respect for the rule of law and to the security and
well wellbeing of persons and communities in the country.
“We also need credible institutions, an economy that guarantees
a fair deal and outcome for hardworking people, better physical
infrastructures and an enabling environment in which citizens can
thrive.
“ The National Peace Committee therefore calls on state
governments to commit to developing their own people more and
relying less on Abuja to fund their consumption through monthly
allocations.”
The committee urged Prof. Osinbajo to remain steadfast in his
effort to reassure all communities and citizens of equal stake in
the country.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/how-to-save-nigeria-by-peace-committe/