Governor Emmanuel
COLLABORATIVE efforts beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, race, socio-cultural construct, religious affiliation and doctrinal differences by faith leaders with moral authority is needed at this crucial moment to advance sustainable peace, social cohesion and hope in Nigeria.
This was part of the remarks made by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, while speaking at a meeting on the security situation in Nigeria.
Governor Emmanuel posited that to stem the tide of extremists in Nigeria, whether religious fundamentalists, dissident Islamists or militia groups, there is a need to address the conditions that foster radicalism, poverty, unemployment, social dislocation, cultural polarisation among the large demographic of disaffected young people.”
He said that since the government had been variously accused of politics of parochial interest and tyrannical agenda, it had become difficult for it to adequately act as an arbiter for conflict resolution and genuine peace.
Emmanuel noted that Nigeria is facing an existential challenge nurtured by the narrow identities of politics, ethnicity, wrong interpretation of religion and corruption, exacerbated by economic deprivations, violent extremism, and the rise of ethnic militia groups.
He said: “In the last few months, the country has witnessed a surge in protests such as the EndSARS with accompanying destruction of lives and property.
“Kidnapping and abductions have dramatically increased, with more than 700 students taken since the beginning of this year.
“We have witnessed the death of police and military officers in different parts of the country at the hands of a new group called the ‘unknown gunmen, who have also burnt various police facilities. The rampaging of herdsmen and bandits is practically uncontrollable as they kill, maim and chase people out of their communities.”
These, he said, had led the repective regions of the country to resort to establishing their own security units, on the premise that the central government is either unwilling or unable to protect its citizens.
The governor maintained that the retreat would afford stakeholders the opportunity to meet and transparently address “critical issues and seek lasting solutions to the grave challenges facing Nigeria, beginning from an affirmation of transcendent truths that define our common humanity.”
He said the discussions would outline and examine the root causes of agitations and violence in the country, provide a safe environment for stakeholders and key actors to open dialogue and chart a path forward.
It would also bridge gaps across ethnic, religious, cultural and ideological divides to better understand the conflict dynamics and provide a platform for reconciliation.
He expressed the hope that the retreat could foster effective crafting and implementation of policies for the human flourishing of peoples across the identified fault lines of the country, as well as reposition the importance of universal principles and shared values as the glue for social cohesion and sustainable peace.
Among dignitaries in attendance at the conference were the GPF President, James Flynn, who gave the introductory remarks, the facilitator, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, Lanre Banjo who represented the coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress,Gani Adams, Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, Islamic cleric, and Dr. Mohammad Camara, who moderated the retreat.
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