FORMER ACTING CHAIRMAN OF FEDERAL CHARACTER COMMISSION HON. ABAYOMI SHEBA ESQ URGES LEADERS ON PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN NIGERIA.[/b][b]


Nigeria's peace, unity and stability should be Paramount to us as citizens and leaders of this great country. 60 years of independence, and over a hundred years of existence the Giant of Africa is plagued by numerous issues that are threatening her unity, peace and stability as a nation.


The greatest problem threatening the unity of Nigeria as a nation is the colossal scale of corruption that has eaten deeply into all arms of government, private sectors and the daily life of the average Nigerian. This does not mean that every Nigerian or public office holder is corrupt, however the level of corruption in our country today is alarming.


The general opinion shared by the masses is that public office is a profitable opportunity to live large at the expense of the society. This is because, desperate politicians make fantastic offers while campaigning, promising to transform the nation into an El Dorado overnight. Once they are elected, all the campaign promises are left unfulfilled and the politicians make themselves comfortable with our national wealth. This is a big shame for us as politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and as a country.


All over the world, Nigeria is known as a nation where public funds can just “disappear” and are never recovered. Public infrastructure across the nation is poorly developed, and the few available are not maintained to keep them up to standard.


The flagrant mismanagement of public trust by government officials at all levels is progressively causing the citizens to lose faith in the unity of One Nigeria and may result in more serious consequences than we are presently tackling.


The diversity of ethnic identities across the entire nation is an enviable heritage that should enhance Nigerians unity, peaceful coexistence and stability but reverse is the case. This is so, because the decisions and initiatives that could transform the lives of the masses are opposed by some political elites, because they desire only the progress of their native tribes at the expense of others.


To crown the problem, some government officials use the power of their various offices to oppress their ethnic rivals and grant unfair opportunities to their relatives and tribesmen, creating an atmosphere of distrust and mutual hatred among the citizens.


Nigeria has been known to have Elder tribals and political leaders inciting their youths to oppose the welfare of any rival tribal groups or oppositions, being willing, even to shed blood to achieve their devious plans. Respected figures in the society secretly procure weapons and distribute them to unemployed youths, who are manipulated to intimidate and eliminate any opposition.


According to the United Nations Report on Nigeria’s Common Country Analysis “Nigeria is a deeply divided society considering the plurality of ethnic, religious, and regional identities that define her political existence. With such a statement coming from the United Nations, it is crystal clear that Nigeria is still years away from being a truly united and progressive nation.


These known fact can not take us anywhere or far as a nation. It will be in the better interest of all the traditional rulers, politicians, religious leaders and every meaning Nigerian to embark on preaching grass root unity and peaceful coexistence. While public office holders put the interest of the citizens first before their own either in appointments or politics. We need to kill corruption and looting of public funds. This will eradicate poverty and bring about DIVIDEND of democracy.