As Nigerians prepare for the 2023 General Elections, the Nigeria Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has urged citizens to embrace peace and unity, which is the only way to keep all ethnic groups united in love for a progressive future, warning incitement of racial, religious hatred which can trigger atrocity crimes.
The Vice president gave the advice on Tuesday. at a one day High-Level Conference hosted by the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI), at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre, Abuja.
Discussing Nigeria's National Unity, with the theme, "Nigeria's National Unity in the buildup to the 2023 General Elections", the Vice president, ably represented by the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed advised elites, professionals against breaking the bond of unity and peace existing in the country.
He said, "Peace is the foundation of enduring prosperity and for peace to reign everywhere in Nigeria, all of us as Nigerians must make necessary sacrifices".
Osinbajo lauds the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI) for organising an impactive High-Level Conference, to bring together major foremost stakeholders in the country to Think-Tank on Public Policies in Nigeria.
He said the outcome of the conference will change the narrative of Nigerians to seek peace amidst the country's growing insecurity, violent extremism, and ethno-religious crisis, especially as we approach the 2023 General Elections.
At the Conference, the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Muhammed who represented vice president evoked by reading a private mail sent to him directly to his email the calamitous consequences of inciting one group of people against another, with many recalling tragedies endured during the Second World War, in Rwanda in 1994.
Also, the National President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI), IGP MD Abubakar (Rtd) in his welcome address said, unity and progress of any society is a collective responsibility and governments at all levels, as well as all communities, organisations and individuals, must commit to building a country of our dreams, anchored on accountability, equity, diversity and inclusion, which define our reality and heritage as a people.
Abubakar said, there must be a comprehensive strategy and aggressive advocacy to stabilize the polity and promote a proactive agenda for the development of our dear country, Nigeria.
"Nigeria, like all countries of the world, is not immune to developmental challenges. Indeed we have had our own share of political, economic and social crises, occasioned by poor planning, inadequate management, lack of accountability, poor citizen participation and in particular, non implementation of robust policy frameworks and strategies to drive the critical sectors of the economy.
AANI president said that NIPSS had contributed immensely in addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges, by engaging in research and advocacy that had proffered several recommendations and implementation strategies, on virtually all aspects of political, social and economic lives.
According to him, there is the need for a policy framework for the implementation of the research findings and recommendations from NIPSS, many of which are left to gather dust on the shelves
"This resulted in stunted economic growth which promoted poverty, unemployment and crimes that snowballed into insurgency, kidnappings and armed conflicts in many parts of the country. These misfortunes are threatening our unity, security, economy and all aspects of our daily lives", he noted.
He said, the Conference provides opportunity for stakeholders, to hold frank and dispassionate discussion on the magnitude of the challenges facing the country and participate in developing adequate recommendations and a realistic road map, for their implementation.
The Keynote Speaker, General Martin Luther Agwai, CFR former Chief of Defence Staff, and former Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Peacekeeping, opined that for a nation to have stability and development it must transform and reduce the threats to its national security by concentrating its efforts on increasing human security which encompasses human right, good governance, access to education, good healthcare and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfill his or her own potential.
General Agwai noted that good governance that will provide national value and integration, human security and eliminate/contain the root, Causes of insecurity. Nigerians needs to take conscious steps towards enthroning responsive leadership "and demanding action against insecurity through every means permissible in a democracy.
In his Goodwill message the Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor ably represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations Major General Adeyemi Yekini assures Nigerians of military unflinching support to end the insurgency and insecurity bedeviling the country.
General Irabor said, the military is on top of the game to restore peace back to the country.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum ably represented by Dr Bulama Gubio in his goodwill message warns Nigerians to dissociated from any public speaker or Cleric who preached violence.
In addition, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III who is the Chairman of AANI Heritage Council, stressed the importance of unity - coming together to solve crisis, issues collectively in love. He said, identifying the community or ethnic problems is half solved.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola urged Nigerian youths to bank on farming as the smart alternative to unemployment. He said, the the landscape and mineral resources in Nigeria, poverty will reduced.
Dignitries at the conference were the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Chief of Defence Staff, and former Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Peacekeeping, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), CFR, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR mni, who is the Chairman of AANI Heritage Council.
Other prominent guests are Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zullum, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, and eminent Nigerians from diverse backgrounds, as well as all members of AANI, among others.