Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has advocated a national dialogue among Nigerians as a way forward for peace, unity and progress in the country.
The Governor who stated this today when members of the national working committee of the National Summit Group (NSG) visited him in Asaba, said proper integration after frank talk among Nigerians would help foster unity in the country.
“I believe that with dialogue we can air our different views on issues affecting our country and come to consensus in order to promote peace and unity. This will enable us avoid violence and confrontation in resolving national issues as a country,” he said.
According to him, national dialogue among Nigerians with different views and opinions was important to avoid violence, enhance accommodation and tolerance as well as promote peace.
He explained that the need for open dialogue was to table national issues and bring out possible solutions and share ideas on how best to tackle the issues in the country.
Dr Uduaghan observed that there was nothing wrong with the centenary celebrations of the country but that national dialogue should be infused into the programme.
However, he argued that such dialogue would be better managed by those outside government while the implementation of the outcome should be left with the government.
The Governor lamented the growing mistrust and the absence of genuine integration of the past particularly exemplified by the federal unity schools some decades back
He said there was need for Nigerians to return to that era of integration as in the past where unity strived in the country without tribal sentiments and religious crisis.
“I think that with dialogue we can still return to that era of integration in this country where parents could send their children to schools in any part of the country without the fear of security threat and attendant issues”, he added.
He pledged his administration’s support for the initiative and thanked the group for choosing to hold their meeting in Asaba.
In a brief remark, the chairman of the group, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai said they are in Delta state on national dialogue to brainstorm on issues affecting the nation.
He explained that the forum was to rub minds with different opinion leaders, activists on how to promote peaceful co-existence in the country.
Alhaji Yakasai noted that the group believed in dialogue to resolve national issues rather than violence and confrontation.
“We are not advocating for sovereign national congress but we welcome good ideas from Nigerians on how to move the country forward peacefully. We do not believe in confrontation and violence in resolving national issues,” he stated.
