BY EMMANUEL EBELEKE/OBINNA EKWEM
LAGOS — The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, has charged Nigerians to continue to build a united nation that is based on shared values and historical facts to enable the future generation dwell in a more united, strong and great nation.

He made this known while delivering a lecture entitled: “United Among The Various Ethnic Nationalities in Delta State” at Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of activities marking the 26th anniversary of Itsekiri Professionals Association, Alpha-May Club, weekend.

Deacon Onosode said the timing of the anniversary lecture coincided politically with the inauguration of the President and other political office holders in the country and that the title of the lecture was important because Nigerians would begin to appreciate the peace and progress the country will eventually attain in the nearest future if they make references to their  historical facts and shared values.

“The timing coincided politically with the inauguration of the President and the governors and the issue of unity can only be based on shared values.

”If there are shared values that are universally acceptable, we will live in a harmoniously and attain greatness. When we understand our differences only from the shoes and clothes we wear and begin to love one another as people created in God’s own image, then we can be united.

”History should help us build a better society devoid of animosity,” he said.

He decried the infighting and animosity currently existing among the various ethnic groups in Delta state and called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Delta State Think Tank Committee during James Ibori’s administration, saying that the implementation of the committee report would help in addressing the lingering political and ethnic crisis rocking the state since creation.

“We ought to identify certain values that we share together as Deltans with a view to chat a way of living together, in addition to the implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

”Culture is not static and so, we should be borrowing other culture to be able to live together as one. As Delta Professionals, we have a duty.  When we have differences, we must apply  intelligence to address them to avoid violence in any form. The ethnic nationalities in Delta State ought to build on the common injunction God has given to us,” he charged, warning that those fail to tow the part of history will miss the opportunity of following human progress.

The Pro-Chancellor also used the occasion to urge Nigerian leaders to seek elective offices for the purpose of service and sacrifice to the people and not to satisfy their selfish ends, stressing that it is through service to the people by the leaders that we will have less problem in the society.

“Until we learn and commit ourselves to render services to offices we were appointed , we will not deal with the culture of corruption and bad leadership. We must commit ourselves to serve rather than be served as the fundamental values that will take care of the bickering and setbacks with us. In all these, we must commit to looking for the right people for every position of trust, above parochial interest, so that those who look up to serve will see it as an opportunity to serve the nation,” he stated. While reinstating his commitment at preaching love to all Nigerians, the Vice-Chancellor stated that he would pursue  He described teachers and university lectures as a special species that should not be getting upset at a mere provocation.

Responding, the chairman of the occasion, Philip Asiodu described the lecture as a stimulating one, capable of provoking thoughts among many Nigerians.

He said “It is a shame that history is not taught in Nigerian schools. He aligned his view with Onode in calling on Nigerians to show commitment in building and nurturing a united nation based on shared values, as according to him, it is only by so doing that solutions to the myriad of problems confronting Nigeria will be addressed.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Asiodu congratulated the members of the club for sustaining the club and the choice of the lecture topic.

He said it was uncommon to see elight class coming together in Nigeria to deliberate on the issues of the common man and progress of the society and expressed hope that the lecture would go along way in shaping the attitude of Deltans and Nigerians at large in building an enviable place for their people to live.

Also speaking, Nigeria former ambassador to United Nations, Blessing Clark said “ I di believe in the noble objective of the club because we require in a time like this, a club like this that will unite the different ethnic groups in Delta state. And I hope that this will not stop uniting the various tribes in delta but pursue its common progress”

For him, the only way to go is by exposing those things that divive us and profer solutions to solving them.