Nigeria can’t be a great nation except we all work for peace —Abubakar Abdulsalami

The former military Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, in the University of Ibadan, on Friday, said that Nigeria cannot be the great nation we all want except we all agree to collectively work together and collaborate for peace.

He said this while delivering his lecture titled “Collaborative Peace Building in Nigeria”, at the maiden edition of General Abdusalami A. Abubakar Foundation Peace Lecture organised by the executives of the Abdusalami A. Abubakar Postgraduate Hall of the University of Ibadan.

The General noted that peace is not an absence of disagreement, that every normal society must have disagreement because people do not think and talk alike. “What is expected is that, when we have disagreement, we would find peaceful solutions to the issues.”

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He stated that the future belongs to the youth, but their today has been damaged by conflicts. While congratulating President Buhari for signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run into law, he said that it is not enough. “Getting into political offices is not as difficult as having what it takes to hold a country together,” he said.

While tasking the youth to be ambassadors of peace at all times, he lamented that his generation could have been found wanting in certain aspects, but that should not be the case with the youth. “We are struggling to make amends. Your own generation might not have such opportunity if you fail to start working for peace now,” he added.

About Boko Haram, armed banditry, cattle rustling, herdsmen crisis, kidnapping and hostage taking, he stated that politicians would be disappointing Nigerians if all they do now is to be discussing how to displace one another.

The general advised that the answers to the security challenges of the country should not be left for the politicians alone to answer. He stressed that the intelligence community needs to become more proactive in addressing the menace more professionally.  “Nigerians want to be told that Nigeria could get out of the social, economic, environmental, and security challenges they are facing,” he said.

He admonished Nigerians to think positively about Nigeria, to unity for the nation and to work for peace. “We have no other place to run to should the country be engulfed in a fire,” he concluded.

Also at the event, was the chairman of the occasion, Professor Suleiman Bogoro. He noted that at this time in Nigerian history “we need moral voices to remind us we are getting it wrong and so must retrace our steps.”

The chief host, the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, describe General Abukakar as an epitome of peace, stating that “the essence of governance is to provide peace and security to the citizenry.”

The host, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Abel Olayinka, thanked the general for honouring their invitation to speak to them about peace today that marked the International Peace Day, noting that the general is a man of peace.