Group to Nigerians: Religious or ethnic considerations will not help us in next elections

A non partisan political group, Legacy Initiative International, has called on all Nigerians to come together irrespective of religious or tribal colouration to forge a common front in the picking the next sect of political leaders who will serve Nigerians rather than narrow interest.

The group at its first stakeholders dinner and interactive session with the theme ‘Inter-Faith Colloration in Nation Building’ noted that unless Nigerians across religious and tribal lines forget their differences and forge a common front towards building a new Nigeria that we serve all interest, the political class will continue to take everyone for a ride for their advantage.

At the event which was attended by top leaders across the various religious and tribal divide, including Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Representatives of the Ooni of Ife, representatives of the Aalafin of Oyo, representatives of the Sulktan of Sokoto, among many others,

the grand patron of the group, Chief Kenny Martins noted that the group seeks to build a bridge across religious and ethnic divide in the country with a view to engendering peace and harmonious political relationship in the country.

According to him, “because Nigeria has two main religious groups, the Christians and the Muslims, often times, the leaders of these two great religions have different perception on some developmental challenges in the country, and in turn pass their view to their respective followers to imbibe.

“Legacy Initiative International seeks to bridge the communication gap that clearly exists on some national issues between the leadership of these faith groups, especially on political issues.”

He noted that his interaction with some leaders of these two religions have given him hope that a new Nigeria is possible, “I am happy to announce to you that we have met with leaders of these two religions,

we met them privately and publicly and we are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and the readiness as expressed that it is time we come and work together, because we have played on the sentiments of these two religions for too long to the advantage of very few.

“Somebody told me a story yesterday, I was at the residence of a former President, he said as a private secretary to the Sardauna, that when he the Sardauna goes to the mosque every Friday that he goes into the house of Catholic Priest, who shares a fence with the mosque, there he will eat and do his ablution and drop his shoes, after prayers he comes back there, wears his shoes goes into his car and leave.

“We have therefore decided to go back to those times, I can cite many other examples, where the Christian leaders will sit down with Muslim leaders and look critically at the battles we have fought in this country for development and unity.

“If Dubai could be where it is 30 years ago and today Dubai has become the envy of Nigeria, because there is no high rise in Dubai or China that is more than 35 years old, today they took a decision to move forward, then we are ready to make Nigeria take that same decision today.

“Today, Nigeria needs to take that decision that we are moving forward and challenge ourselves that in the next one decade or so we want to be among these other nations that are considered the best.

If we must do this, those sitting across the table must look critically across the table, they must not be partisan, they will not be political, they will not have religious or ethnic bias, they will look at the best 11 that can run this country, at all levels,

you will find them out for all of us, from the mosques and the churches, we shall go and say these are the best people that can govern this nation and we shall therefore vote for them without thinking of any political consideration.

“We believe that such people who believe that they have the wish and prayers of those we call men of conscience, we go into power conscious that the whole country is behind them, they will come out strong and wherever any of them fails they will also know that there are consequences, because the nation shall call them to answer,” he said.

The Sultan, the Ooni and the Aalafin who were all represented all advised Nigerians to be ready with the Permanent Voters Cards to vote wisely in coming elections with only one consideration in Mind, the progress of Nigeria.

Sen. Ike Nwachukwu said he has been bothered over time because of the difficulties Nigerians put upon themselves because of wrong choices, adding that this is another time for Nigerians to put political considerations aside and vote for the common good.