Former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar
(retd) has expressed concern over growing tension and resentment in
the country occasioned by the security challenges.
General Abdulsalami said the problems, which revolve around
issues and matters of peaceful co-existence and security demand
urgent actions by governments and well meaning Nigerians.
The former head of state spoke in Minna, yesterday, at the
opening of a two-day roundtable discussion organised by the General
Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Conflict
Resolution.
“This roundtable is the centre’s contribution to the search for
solutions to some of the problems we are currently experiencing as
a nation, particularly issues and matters around co-existence and
security.
“Nigeria is going through a period of trial amidst growing
tension and resentment all over the country.
“There is anger in the land and the voices of reason are
drowning very rapidly. It is clear that the situation requires that
we all live up to the expectations of a nation that puts so much
value in elders and leaders.”
He emphasised that the round table discussion which had
participants drawn from across the country would brainstorm on
solutions to the problems being experienced in the country.
“We are all here as Nigerians who share responsibility for the
state of our nation, therefore if any forum can help in the
accurate identification of the problems and solutions for a united
peaceful Nigeria, let us be counted among such fora.”
Chairman and former Nigeria permanent representative to the
United Nation, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari cautioned those agitating for
outright separation of the country as solution to the current
crisis to take a second look at the experiences of other countries
that have travelled the same road.
He said there could never be military solution to any conflict,
hence the need to embrace dialogue.
“To bring conflicts under control, you must look for a common
ground,” he admonished.
He suggested that team building must go hand-in-hand in
conflicts resolution, stressing that “this enable you build
foundation for conflicts resolution.”
In attendance were: Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullah,
PDP national women leader, Josephine Anini, Amb. Yahaya Kwande,
presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP),
Kingsley Moghalu, Emir of Bida and Chairman, Niger State Council of
Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Minna, Alhaji
Umar Farouk Bahago, representatives of the chief of defence staff,
the national security adviser, among others.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) had, at the
last minute, pulled out of a roundtable cited the invitation of the
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as
their reason.
The forum, in a letter co-signed by Edwin Clark, Pan-Niger Delta
Forum (PANDEF) leader, Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere leader, John Nwodo,
leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Pogu Bitrus, leader of the Middle
Belt Forum said: “We observed that the roundtable will have in
attendance all the national security heads, chief of defence staff
and notable Nigerians, underscoring the high level of the
dialogue.
“We were comfortable up to that point until we saw the
following: Gan Allah Fulani Development Association, Miyetti Allah
Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.”
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