Governor
Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has said that the socio-political
challenges facing Nigeria as a nation can be surmounted if Nigerians were
tolerant, peaceable and united.
Chief
Akpabio stated this on Tuesday in his message to the National Political Summit
organized by the Nigeria Consensus Group held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State
Capital.
Represented
by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, the
Governor, who anchored his message on the theme Our Strength is Our Unity:
Seek Diversity said the strength of Nigeria lies in the unity of Nigerians.
He
emphasized the need for the people, irrespective of religious, political or
ethnic affiliations to inculcate the spirit of love for one another, promote
peaceful co-existence as well as be patriotic in their words and actions.
While
appealing to senior citizens and political leaders in the country to use their
experiences to help Nigeria remain a united and indivisible entity, Governor
Akpabio thanked the organizers of the summit for finding Akwa Ibom, which he
described as the Gilgal of Nigeria, fit to host the programme, and promised
that the State will continue to support the promotion of peace and harmony
among Nigerians.
Delivering
a keynote address entitled Roadmap to Stability, Progress and Unity in
Nigeria a constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze called on President
Goodluck Jonathan to convene a National Conference for representatives of the
389 ethnic groups in the country to deliberate on thorny national issues, with
a view to finding solutions to them.
He
identified the practice of true federalism as a panacea for uniting a
multi-ethnic nationality like Nigeria to help address challenges threatening
the Country as a nation.
Prof
Nwabueze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the principle of unity in
diversity involves the recognition and entrenchment of ethnic and religious
differences in the constitution as the basis for the country’s unity, peace and
stability.
The
Chairman on the occasion and Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo
described the summit, which has as its theme Roadmap to Political and
National Security in Nigeria as timely as it came at a time the country is
facing political instability and national insecurity.
On
her part, a Niger Delta Activist, Ann Kio Briggs, who addressed the
misconception about the summit, said the event was not to stop President
Jonathan from seeking re-election in 2015, as was being speculated, but to
provide a platform for elder statesmen, political leaders and other patriotic
Nigerians to chart the way forward of a better Nigeria. Goodwill messages were
presented by the Chairman of Middle Belt Forum, Retired Air Commodore Dan
Suleiman, former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, and former
President of National Council of Women Societies, Haija Ramatu Bala Usman, a
human rights lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Dr. Bello Dantata
and the Project Coordinator, International Colloquium on Igbo Question, Prof.
Uzodinma Nwala.
The
summit, which drew participants from different parts of the country also had in
attendance eminent Nigerians, including a former Governor of Anambra State,
Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the pioneer Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazuirike
Amaechi, Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa, and former Minister of Women Affairs,
Hajia Aisha Ismaili.
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