EARCOM sues for a pan-Nigeria vision from leaders
An appeal has been made to the leaders of Nigeria to come up with a pan Nigeria vision which Citizens can believe in, rally around for better integration and national development.
The appeal was made by the Head of the Media and Advocacy Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission, EARCOM, Rev. Dr Osondu Ahirika while reflecting on the nation’s 64th Independence Celebration on Morning Flight, a topical current affairs programme on Passion 94.5 fm, Uyo.
Dr Ahirika who decried the false start of Nigeria’s First Republic where our patriarchs founded political parties on regional, ethnic and religious backgrounds, identified mutual suspicion between the ethnic nationalities and the erstwhile Northern and Southern Protectorate as the reason the country is yet to have a common Nigeria Dream, which every citizen would be willing to defend, uphold and if necessary, die for.
He urged the nation’s leadership to conceptualise a vision of better integration that can galvanize Nigerians to unleash the true potentialities of greatness imbued in the people to build a great nation.
He added that until Citizens become socially responsible and patriotic, the social vices of corruption, ethnic jingoism, and religious bigotry, will continue to infiltrate our sociopolitical culture, such that, division among Nigerians along those faultlines would keep getting wider with negative implications for nation-building.
Dr Ahirika however lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for fostering unity, inclusion and harmony in the State, by bringing everyone together irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious diversities, maintaining that, Nigeria can borrow a leaf from Akwa Ibom State, also known as The Land of Promise, which has found a dream the generality of the people proudly identify with.
He argued that it is not too late for the leadership class in Nigeria to retrace their steps and with the spirit of patriotism emulate the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Lee Kwan Yew, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela or Mau Tse Tung among others who fashioned a National Dream that revolutionised their countries.
EARCOM MEDIA UNIT