Independence Day: ADC tasks ruling class on national unity

…launches national handshake initiative to address division in the polity

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has tasked the political class of the country in the urgency of working to unify the country.

The party regretted that Nigeria seemed more divided than when it gained in 1960 considering the pervasiveness of ethno-religous crises, insecurity and economic hardship facing the people.

The party said it has become expedient, as the nation is going into another election year to address the divisive challenges confronting the country to pave way for genuine unity, growth and development of the country.

On its part, Ibrahim Ahmed, the National Organizing Secretary of the party said it is instructive to note that a national Handshake initiate was launched on the Independence Day to assist in surmounting the seeming political division in the country.

As part of its activities to mark the Independence Day, Ahmed at a media session on Monday in Abuja said the ADC Handshake across Nigeria initiative involved members of the party across the country shaking hands with every Nigerian they meet as way of genuine reconciliation gesture.

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He said: “Today marks 58 years of our country, Nigeria, as an independent sovereign nation. And for 58 years, Nigeria leaders have not done much to unify the people who have been glued to their ethnic cleavages and interests.

“For 58 years, we have continuously witnessed widening gulf among Nigerian ethnic nationalities rather than emerge as nationalists which our founding fathers and first Republic politicians professed and stood for.

“We have seen our leaders’ slump from national leaders to ethno-religious champions. Our national institutions are degenerating and going extinct.

“Insecurity is heightening in intensity with devastation of lives and property of Nigerians by fellow Nigerians. This cannot be allowed to continue”.

On its efforts towards addressing the challenges, Ahmed noted that ADC is only preoccupied with building a strong united Nigeria.

“At inception, ADC’S founding fathers thought deeply on the symbols that can translate into a unifying force for Nigeria.

“Given the devastating effects of insurgency, terrorism and ethnic cleansing in the country, the ADC set aside today, our independence remembrance day as a special day to showcase our love for unity, love, peace and tranquility in Nigeria through our handshake philosophy,” he added.

He said the initiative will be an annual event to be sustained with the hope that all Nigerian would buy into, adding “We appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, creed or religion to remember that our strength is in our diversity.

“We want Nigerians to love Nigeria as their country and desist from doing anything that will be inimical to the growth and development of our dear country.

“We want Nigerians to see their fellow country men and women as one indivisible people.

“ADC believes in the one united Nigeria. We believe that only Nigerians can make Nigeria great again. ADC believes in good governance and equality of opportunity for all and we believe that the state should be the servant of the people and that democracy will lead to the progress and well-being of our people and nation”.