The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said that Nigeria will continue to exist as one indivisible country despite its present challenges.
Shehu made the assertion at the ‘Kwararafa Reporters Lecture and Awards’ ceremony, which was held on Thursday, in Abuja.
Sharing opinions on the issue of whether Nigeria should disintegrate or continue to remain as one nation, the Presidential Spokesperson said that nobody should go anywhere and that Nigeria will not break.
Shehu, who commended Kwararafa Reporters on the positive impact they are making in society, advised thus: “On the controversy of whether there should be Nigeria or not, my view is that nobody should go anywhere, we will continue to be here”.
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in his remark, preached peace saying that war is not the best way forward for the country.
He advised that no matter what the differences have been in the past, peace is the only way Nigeria can move forward. He further took a strong stand against disintegration saying those that are calling for it should desist.
The Keynote speaker of the occasion, Governor Yahaya Bello, of Kogi State, represented by the Secretary to the State government, Kogi State, Dr. (Mrs.) Folashade Ayoade, spoke on what he titled: ”One Nigeria, a Critical Work”, saying that to keep Nigeria one demands critical work by people in leadership positions.
He charged leaders to do more in the area of infrastructure and building human capacity aimed at building a great future for the country.
Bello urged leaders to have a vision for the country and to endeavor to prepare the next generation of citizens and leaders who will have even stronger desires to safeguard national interest.
He further said that one Nigeria should guarantee security and peace of all citizens, and that it should be built on equity which will allow everyone to thrive on their own.
While acknowledging that there is no easy road to freedom, Bello said that unity will guarantee success as no one acting alone can achieve success, and called on all Nigerians to therefore act together as a united people for national reconciliation, for nation-building, and for the birth of a new Nigeria.
Awards were also presented to dignitaries including Engr Saleh Mamman – ‘Minister of the year’; Senator Bwacha – ‘Senator of the year’; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – ‘Distinguished Nigerian of the year’; Amb Dr. Oti Jonathan Idowu – ‘Young entrepreneur of the year’; and Prof Chris Nwakobia Jnr – ‘Voice of conscience’, amongst others.
