By Correspondent in Minna.
General Abdulsalami.
As peace-loving Nigerians marked the 61st Independence of their nation on Saturday,former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar,has urged them to team up and fight their common to ensure the restoration of peace in the country.
In doing this, they have also been advised not to allow the present day challenges divide them but maximise them to serve as a unifying factor to fight these enemies.
“Nigerians should eschew patriotism by avoiding divisive comments, ethnicity and religious bigotry as being experienced in recent times and speak for the country.
“Nigeria has come along way and can not afford to break up with over 250 ethnic groups each yearning for a place in governance,”he said.
General Abdulsalami gave the advice on Thursday while speaking with journalists at his hilltop residence in Minna, to mark Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary cerebration.
He expressed optimism that the numerous challenges facing Nigeria notwithstanding, ‘democracy is on course’.
Abdulasami, however, emphasised that for Nigerians, including those agitating for self determination to heed the call for a one indivisible Nigeria, efforts must be made by the central government to ensure that equity, justice and fairness rule in the affairs of the country.
He said every country; developed and developing has had its challenges, hence, the need for Nigerians to eschew bitterness and embrace peace, no matter the current challenges confronting the nation.
The former Head of State traced the genesis of agitations for self determination by some of sections of Nigeria to perception of exclusion in the sphere of things,including governance as well giving more relevance to states than the central government.
On the colonial administration
Abdulsalami,blamed colonial masters for looting the country’s treasury, noting that the impact of their activities were still being felt in the country.
“My generation grew up under the colonial rule and we saw how colonial masters siphoned our treasury and whatever out of Nigeria. Even the rail and road system they claimed to have created was in order to cart away what they could to the seaports and export it”, he said.
On the security challenges, the former Head of State wants the federal government to strengthen the security forces; recruite more personnel and adequately equip them to enable them confront the diverse criminal elements and protect lives and properties of citizens.
“More could be done by strengthening our security forces, by increasing the number of people involved in security details. That means there should be more recruitment into the security forces and equipping them adequately so that they could face the challenge of providing security of life and property in the country”.
While felicitating with Nigeria @ 61, Abdusalami called for the celebration of founding fathers and leaders who in one way or the other had contributed their quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, despite peculiar challenges.
He advised the media to ensure fair reportage of government activities in the discharge of its watch dog mandate,by not only criticiding but proffer solutions and applauds when necessary.
