Group calls for unity in Nigeria
By Gloria Essien, Abuja
A group known as The Patriotic Action Nigeria,PAN, has stressed the need for Nigerians to work together to have a true national development.
PAN is a non governmental Initiative set up to get Nigerians to Pledge their individual allegiance to Nigeria.
The Initiator of PAN, General John Gbor said the problem of ethnic conflict in Nigeria has been compounded by the colonial legacy of national states whose artificial boundaries cut across many ethnic divides.
“Nigeria will remain undeveloped, ungovernable and poor until we, the citizens of the country give up ethnicity, the geo-political divides of North and South, and pledge our loyalty to Nigeria before we can begin to make appreciable progress. We must accept being just Nigerian as the Chinese are Chinese and Americans are just Americans and not English-American, French-American or Danish-American” The Initiator of PAN stated.
He said though Nigeria was faced with challenges such as insecurity, poverty, corruption among others, the Unity of the country was key to Youths Development, Hunger Eradication and Women Empowerment.
General Gbor further said that all these are possible only when Nigeria becomes united.
“As a link between present and future generations, you are a critical partner of PAN” he said.
The retired Army General called on governments at all levels as well as the Private Sector to take advantage of the youth population and abundant natural resources for the growth and development of the country
“The country has double their efforts to ensure the employment of youths. The youths are also encouraged to seek assistance from friendly banks to set up businesses for self employment. Any nation that ignores its youths does so at the expense of its very existence since the youths represent the future,” he stated.
He also appealed to Nigerians that It takes Nigerians to fix Nigeria.
According to him, ” On behalf members of Patriotic Action Nigeria (PAN) to all Nigerian stakeholders who love and are committed to the survival and success of Nigeria to support PAN for the unity of our dear country.We have a choice, either to fix our nation for the benefit of present and future generations or, to continue to suffer the mess we inherited from the colonialists and the ones we have created for ourselves”
He urged the Media, as critical stakeholder to use the platform with great sense of patriotism for peace and unity of Nigeria as they are expected to encourage the populace to partner with the government in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the country from corruption, infrastructural deficits to criminality.
He reiterated that “PAN seeks to partner with Government, collect information at the grassroots and communicate with governments on all issues hindering or facilitating national unity”
The Initiator of PAN also said in as much as he had pledged its loyalty to the nation, there was still need to go back to the drawing board, revisit the British contrivance of Nigeria, untie the wires and remove the knots that hinder what is holding the nation back.
He said the country needs people’s Constitution and not as Yorubas, Igbos, Kanuris, Hausas, Fulanis, Nupe’s, Ibibio, Anang, Ekwere, Tiv etc; or as Easterners, Northerners, and Westerners; or as Muslims or Christians but as Nigerians.
Confidence Okwuchi
