How Nigeria can overcome current challenges, by Onu

NIGERIANS should focus on those things that bind them together to ensure unity and cohesion in the polity, National Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, has said.

Onu said it was unfortunate that Nigerians have never been divided as they are now since the country came into existence about 98 years ago.

He made the assertion yesterday in Abuja when members of the Coalition of Civil Societies for National Unity and Co-existence visited him at the ANPP National Secretariat in Abuja.

The ANPP chief recalled how people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds were brought together by the colonialists to form what is now known as Nigeria in 1914 and wondered why Nigerians that had been cohabiting peaceably since then were now at loggerhead over mundane issues such as religion and ethnic differences.

He said the multi-faceted problems now besetting the country were not beyond resolution once well-meaning Nigerians closed ranks.

Onu remarked that Nigeria with its rich human and natural resources has the potential to be a leader in the comity of nations and expressed the willingness of the ANPP to liaise with opposition parties and non-governmental organisations to oust the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next dispensation.

He said: “Nigeria is a great country, we have all it takes not to only lead Africa, but the world because we have the fertile land and human and mineral resources. We are calling on all Nigerians to give us (ANPP) the chance to govern this country. Nigeria can be peaceful, stable and prosperous. We call on Nigerians, the civil society groups to join hands with the opposition parties to take power to achieve this objective.”

Citing Ghana and Senegal as African countries where the opposition parties ousted the ruling parties at the polls, he said the feat could be repeated in Nigeria if the people were resolute on restoring an era of peace and prosperity to the country.

National coordinator and convener of the group, Dr. Chuks Alozie, who expressed admiration for the sterling qualities of the ANPP chief, said it was unfortunate that Nigeria that many believed at independence to be a leader in the comity of nations, had found itself back to the drawing board.

He said Nigeria had been pushed to the precipice, citing the wanton killings and maiming of the people in the North to assert that all was not well with the country.