President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural association, Ohaneze Ndi’gbo, John Nnia Nwodo, has urged all Nigerians to promote virtues of peace and tolerance for one another so as to enhance the unity of the country.
Speaking when he led members of the association on a courtesy visit to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in Sokoto, Nwodo stressed that Nigeria should never be allowed to experience another civil war.
He said although the nation was now facing challenges, the cohesion that existed over the years was worthy of being maintained.
“Yes, our country is facing a trying ‎period, but we should not, under any circumstance, allow the experience of another civil war to happen again. We should not allow personal emotions to undermine our national unity,” he said.
Nwodo, who said the visit was at‎ the instance of the Southeast governors, assured of their cooperation for peaceful coexistence among the ethnic nationalities in the country.
He commended Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, who he said had “in the ‎ongoing ethnic tensions, portrayed himself as a father by stating recently that ‘whoever wants to attack the Igbos, should attack him, first.
“In the same vein, ‎I came with the assurances of Southeast governors that any Igbo who wants to kill a northerner, should first kill them.”
In his remarks, Governor Tambuwal said Nigeria is blessed with many ethnic groups and languages, which he said should be used to promote unity and not division.
Tambuwal said, “The recent tension, especially in the South East, was caused by young men, who do not understand any other way of channeling their grievances other than the way they have chosen.
“I assure you that we are at peace with each other here in Sokoto and we shall continue to be.”
