Senate to agitators: Nigeria’s unity not negotiable

.107 senators speak in one voice, sponsor motion on Nigeria’s unity
.To revisit confab report

Senate on Tuesday urged all Nigerians to desist from actions and utterances that are capable of jeopardising the corporate existence of the nation.

The Senate made the call following a motion on the need for national unity and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawal and 106 other Senators.

The Senate also moved to commence deliberations on the report of the National Conference which up till now has been kept in the closet despite calls by Nigerians for its implementation.

The resolution on the confab report was adopted as an additional prayer in the motion by Senator Theodore Orji who noted that the confab report addressed almost all the issues causing agitations across the country.

While also urging senators to intensify their representative role by embarking on sensitisation campaign in their various constituencies to highlight the importance of harmonious and peaceful co-existence, the Senate urge the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and other relevant agencies to intensify enlightenment and advocacy of loyalty to the nation.

In his lead debate, Senate Ahmed Lawan expressed concern that the greatest challenge facing Nigeria today is the threat to national unity, as centrifugal forces, calls for self-determination, ethnicity and religious intolerance have enveloped national consciousness.

The Senate Leader observed that national integration has been the priority of government in Nigeria which saw the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the unity schools system, the Federal character principles and many other affirmative policies intended to achieve national integration and peaceful co-existence among others have been the priority of government.

Although he agreed that the various integration policies and programmes in Nigeria have yielded some desired outcomes, Lawan said there is need for more to be done as primordial ethnic sentiments and loyalties are still deep rooted.

” Some citizens rather than working for integration into a cohesive nation with common sense of national identity and destiny, are preaching and supporting primordial affiliation for identity, loyalty and security”, he stated, adding that the country has recently been overheated with clamours for ethnically​ based and regionally supported threat to one united Nigeria in various parts of the country.

Senator Lawal further expressed concern that Nigeria’s efforts at achieving national integration and unity have remained largely challenged with entire social matrix characterised by intra-community, inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic, inter-religious and inter-religious strife.

He reiterated that the amalgamations​ of the Southern and Northern​ Protectorates in 1914 was not a mistake, but a design by God as a nation of brothers and sisters united in common destiny, just as he stressed that Nigeria as currently constituted has remained the envy of so many nations across the globe.

He urged Senate to convey the commitment of all Nigerians to live together in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble sovereign nation.

In their contributions, Senators harped on the need to address issues that have led to the various agitations across the country.

Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi) said there has been a lot of injustice in the country, and called on the leaders to be very careful in handling the agitations.

Although he stated that the agitations of those calling for secession does not enjoy the support of majority of Igbos, he also called for caution in handling issues of restructuring as he feared it might tear the country apart.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, also posited that no section of the country can go it alone, adding, “We must work together for the strength of this country.”

Senator Godswill Akpabio also in his contributions observed that forces of disintegration has risen up all over as a result of piled up angers among ethic nationalities coupled with issues of marginalisation and feelings of persecution.

“Nigeria has been a country of motion without movement due to poor leadership.

But we cannot compromise on its unity, we must do everything possible to keep this unity. We can only make progress as a nation if only we remain united. But we must caution our children against hate utterances,” Akpabio insisted.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the session, said disagreements among the different ethnic groups is unnecessary, adding that the country is better off united and that a just and equitable society should be the concern of every Nigerian.

He appealed for restraints from all quarters and all sides to ensure we have a prosperous nation.

The Deputy Senate President also urged Government to address the complaints of citizens as well as make laws to guide reckless utterances.