A renowned Niger Delta born peace and environment advocate, Chief Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has reiterated that the country’s unity is not negotiable in spite of divergent views, multiplicity of tribes and religions.
Chief Mulade, the convener of Nigeria for Peace Project, said that peace is very important in the present day Nigerian situation.
Comrade Mulade, who doubles as the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), an NGO, asserted this Monday May 22nd 2023, in Kano, Kano State during a week-long peace advocacy visit to the northern State.
The first point of call was the Kano State, where he met with the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Namaza Niyiring, where he said, it is not peace that brings about unity, but rather, it is unity that brings about peaceful coexistence among people of divergent historical, ethnic and religious affiliations.
The NGO boss also visited Major General Zamini Sarham (Rtd), HRH, Dr. Faruk Umar Faruk, the Emir of Daura, Katsina State and His Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe of Niger State where he strongly advocated that there is urgent need for unity and reconciliation in Nigeria, through the promotion of peace, equity and justice at all times.
He urged people of different socioeconomic, cultural-norms and values, to tolerate one another for peace to reign in their respective domains.
According Chief Mulade Sheriff, “I am here with the co-convener of the project, Alhaji 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 recently, the nation has been confronted with many security, communal, and ethno-religious 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 runs counter to our collective resolve to be a united and peaceful nation,” he emphasized.
Comrade 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, to come together and champion the project through concerted efforts to compliment other initiatives to restore and sustain national unity, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence, with sustainable national development as their goal.
In his response, the Kano State CAN Chairman, Bishop John Namaza Niyiring commended the group for the initiative, noting that Nigeria is in dire need of peace and total restoration.
He promised to be part of the peace-building process. For his part, Maj. Gen. Zamini Sarham (rtd) thanked the group and also appreciated them for the laudable move, calling on all and sundry to support the peace project for the sake of unity and well being of our dear nation.
Addressing the delegation at his palace, His Royal Highness, Dr. Faruk Umar Faruk, the Emir of Daura, Katsina State 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 further deteriorate the unity of Nigeria.
“I want to assure you that I am fully in support of the project, and I will be committed to undertake any responsibility for a peaceful and united Nigeria,” he added
The delegation was also at the palace of the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Traditional Council, HRH Maj. Gen. Yahaya Abubakar (rtd).
Responding, the Royal Father thanked the team and encouraged them to sustain the movement so as to fix Nigeria, despite our ethnic, cultural and religious diversities, to fast track the development of our dear Nation.
