President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural association, Ohanaeze 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 the need that Nigeria should never be allowed to undergo another civil war.
He said although the nation is now facing challenging times, 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 stated.
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 “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,” Nwodo further said.
In his remarks, Governor Tambuwal said Nigeria is blessed with many ethnic groups and languages who he said should be used to promote unity, not division.
“The recent tension especially in the South East was caused by youg men who that 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,” Tambuwal emphasised.
