Independence: Ajimobi preaches peaceful co-existence
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged Nigerians not to allow differences and challenges confronting various ethnic nationalities to cause division among them.
Ajimobi made the remark in his message to mark the 57th Independence Anniversary in Ibadan on Saturday.
He admitted that many things were wrong with the current federal arrangement in Nigeria, which he said put some parts of the country at a serious disadvantage.
The governor saif that such could be sorted out in a one and indivisible country.
“It is quite unfortunate that at 57, Nigerians are more divided along ethnic and religious lines than we used to be at independence in 1960.
“The drum of separation is being beaten now more than ever before. Ethnic groups with separatist agenda are springing up on daily basis.
“ Erstwhile brothers and compatriots are taking up arms against one another, with others shouting `To thy tent, O Israel’.
“Right now, many of our countrymen see Nigeria as one alien enterprise from which they are very distant and which has no bearing on their existence,’’ he said.
Ajimobi said that the alienation had led to the series of unwholesome developments which had put Nigeria on the map of violence-ridden countries.
According to him, solution to the problem does not lie in the disintegration of the country or issuance of quit notice by one ethnic group to another.
“We are indeed better and stronger together with common aspirations in a united Nigeria,’’ the governor said.
He called for concerted efforts at combating violence, maiming and wanton destruction of lives and property, all in the name of religious extremism.
“We should hold the relative peace in the country very sacred and deepen the confines of peace.
“We can do this by living peacefully with our fellow men and women and put Nigeria at the centre of our interpersonal relationships,’’ he said.
The governor congratulated Nigerians on the occasion and called for more patriotism, resilience and determination on their part to ensure that the country attained greatness.(NAN)
