By Uche Mbah
Former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, has sounded an alarm that insecurity and the quest for self-determination in some parts of Nigeria could destabilize the country, describing it as “not the best” and insisting we must shape our opinions towards peace.
Speaking at the Interfaith Roundtable on Building a Culture of Peace and Unity in Nigeria organized by the Methodist Church in Abuja weekend, Ihejirika said distrust coupled with the collapse of the value system is to blame for the collapsing structures of governance and threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
“The security situation and spate of security challenges in the country should give any reasonable and patriotic Nigerian a sense of worry and concern. More worrisome is the occasional clamor for self-determination by a few individuals within some ethnic groups in the country. There is no doubt that the current situation is not the best. It poses a serious threat to our unity and corporate existence as a nation”, he said.
“As elders, community, and religious leaders, we can contribute to the efforts of government by helping to shape the opinion and reasoning of the people, especially our youths towards peace and unity in the country. We must, through our words and actions, preach peace, love compassion, and unity.
“Our differences should not be a source of division and distrust, but a source of unity, strength, and tolerance to engender national building. I wish to call on all patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians to raise their voices and show concern in the various communities to support any initiative that could foster peace and stability in our nation.”
Ihejirika was the Chief of Army Staff during the Goodluck Jonathan Government. He gave the Boko Haram insurgents a tough battle, and was accused by the then Northern Governors of committing genocide for giving Boko Haram a fight.
