“Do not criminalise ethnicity”-APC

By Aanya Igomu,Abuja

Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC has called on Nigerians to desist from criminalising ethnicity.

The Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe made the call in a press statement released in Abuja.

The party also urged Nigerians to support the newly appointed service chief as they assume office.

The governing party expressed confidence in the new service chiefs to perform their jobs of securing the nation.

“We are confident that the new service chiefs will consolidate on the remarkable achievements of their predecessors in keeping the country safe and peaceful.

“We call for public support for the new service chiefs as they perform their constitutional roles of protecting our country’s territorial integrity and tackle emerging security threats. We also urge increased synergy among the armed forces in achieving these tasks.” the statement read.

The APC stated that the recent divisive statements in the media on security would have an opposite effect in securing the nation.

“Recent incidents in the country have triggered quite divisive rhetoric in some quarters. It is counterproductive and dangerous to national security when we put ethnic spins to issues affecting us. In tackling security threats, we should criminalise crime, not ethnicity.

“As a nation, our strength remains in our diversity and we should continue to forge unity in that diversity. We urge peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among Nigerians, irrespective of the part of the country we chose to live and work” APC said.

Confidence Okwuchi