By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The convener of Nigeria for Peace Project (N4P), Mr Sheriff Mulade, has joined others to appeal to Nigerians to embrace peace, noting that the country’s unity was non-negotiable, as only peace can guarantee sustainable development.
The Niger Delta environment advocate while speaking on Monday in continuation of his week-long peace advocacy visit to the northern states of the federation, reiterated that the absence of peace breeds chaos, which he said the country does not need at the moment.
Speaking with the Kano State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Namaza Niyiring, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), called on citizens to embrace peace.
He further called for the urgent need for unity and reconciliation in Nigeria through the promotion of peace, equity and justice at all times.
“I am here with the co-convener of the project, Ibrahim Waiya, to formally inform you that a project tagged Nigeria for Peace (N4P), an intervention initiative, was conceived and birthed by some like-minded civil society officials and patriotic individuals from across Nigeria who strongly believe in the nation’s unity,” he said.
He lamented that the nation has been for a very long time confronted with many security, communal, and ethnoreligious conflicts which have threatened the foundation of our dear country.
“It is imperative to state that the unity of Nigeria has continued to be threatened by bad elements who whipped up religious, ethnic and regional sentiments during political campaigns. This situation contradicts our collective resolve to be a united and peaceful nation,” he emphasized.
Mr Mulade asserted that it was to achieve this objective that has made some non-state actors and patriotic Nigerians, who had been working on national unity and peace, come together and champion the project through concerted efforts to complement other initiatives to restore and sustain national unity, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence, with sustainable national development as their goal.
In his response, Mr Niyiring commended the group for the initiative, noting that Nigeria is in dire need of peace and total restoration, and promised to be part of the peace-building process.
Addressing the delegation at his palace, the Emir of Daura, Mr Faruk Umar Faruk, gave the group kudos for embarking on such a huge project to save Nigeria.
“We cannot pretend to be safe because our country has been faced with many serious challenges ranging from insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping, to political thuggery and religious intolerance, all of which have helped to deteriorate the unity of Nigeria further.
“I want to assure you that I am fully in support of the project, and I will be committed to undertaking any responsibility for a peaceful and united Nigeria,” he added.
