Nigerians must resist merchants of violence – Sen. Sani

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the Senate, Shehu Sani, has called on all Nigerians to resist those trying to undermine peace and unity of the country.
Sani stated this while speaking to the media in Kaduna yesterday, where he said millions of people laid down their lives for the peace and unity of this country, saying their sacrifice must not be in vain.
He added that Nigerians inherited a united nation from their fathers and forefathers, adding that the citizents of the country must strive to leave behind a united nation for generations yet unborn.
“Nigeria is not an accident; it is a destiny, a dream, a vision and a reality that has come to stay. There are some of us that have prepared to lay down their lives for the peace and unity of this country today.
“Every Nigerian has the right to give his or her own opinion on how the country should best be governed and how it should be addressed, but it is too far for anybody to suggest or submit that this country should be burnt down. It is an attempt for them to achieve their selfish aim, which is not true.
“I will use this opportunity to remind us, especially those of us from Northern Nigeria, that there are number of steps we need to take for us to be economically equal with that part of the country that provide the resources on which this country is been run.
“Let us use this festive season to check ourselves. We must guide against terrorism and extremism. That is very important. We must bring an end to over dependency on oil and we must massively invest in education because that is the basis upon which other sectors of the economy rested.
“We must invest and revive agriculture in the North and our industries. There is need to bring an end to the disunity and disharmony that exist between Muslims and Christians in the northern Nigeria. Every person that lives in the state or local government must be treated with dignity and respect.
“Those are very key and fundamental for our future. No state can make a law without the whole region coming together to agree to address the fundamental issues. We must begin to think of post oil Nigeria in order to give our children a better country than we inherited.
“A nation that is united by force is vulnerable. A nation that is united by justice is impregnable. We can strengthen our unity as a country, our solidarity as a people by entrenching social and political justice that can give everyone a sense of belonging.
“Ethnic champions, sectional leaders, secessionists and xenophobes pose a serious threat to our economic and political survival. It is regrettable that you see elected public officeholders from the North identifying with Arewa nationalists and anarchists. It is also regrettable to see elected political officeholders from the East identifying with secessionists”, he said.

from peoples daily