BY CALEB AYANSINA

ABUJA – FORMER Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said acculturation and negative external influences have largely contributed to the spate of violent crimes and general insecurity the country is presently facing.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan tasked traditional rulers and local government authorities to pay more attention to promotion and preservation of cultural values and heritage, for cultural diversity of the country should be the source of her strength not strife.

The duo was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day National conference on ‘Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen’ in Abuja.

The Ex-Chairman of Board of Trusty of the People Democratic Party, PDP, who was represented by the National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola felt strongly that the issue of national security should be accorded top priority as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and persistent violence.

He however, noted that poverty, unemployment, religion intolerance, ethnic rivalry, growing acculturation and resource control agitations and ignorance are most critical factors that lead to suspicion and mistrust, adding that there is need for peace be constructed in the minds of men and women.

“We need to sensitize the youths, community leaders, village heads, religious leaders, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and politicians to appreciate that building the Nigeria of our dream is a collective responsibility, and therefore we must take active interest in ensuring peace and security”. Obasanjo stressed.

Represented by his Special Adviser on special duties Mrs Serah Pane, the president said “it so sad to note that the level of destructions of lives and property caused by ethnic and religious violence in the country.

“We should learn to exhibit mutual respect forour various cultural and religious affiliations in the interest of our collective peace and development. There have been great distortions and dislocations in our cultural values, heritage, peace and communal security. Let us go back to our root and rediscover our cherished core-cultural values that guaranteed mutual respect, justice and co-existence.

“Let me assure Nigerians that our present security is not insurmountable. Our security agencies are being empowered with enhanced modern equipment and technical gadgets in crime prevention”, just as he continued to “call on aggrieved persons, or group of persons to consider dialogue as best option in addressing grievances”.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said failure of social institutions including religion bodies is a major reason for increase in crimes in the country, therefore, they must live to their responsibilities of instilling morality in the society.

His words, “there is no denying the fact the breakdown of our cherished cultural values and the failure of critical institutions such as the family, community, educational system and religion bodies to live up to their responsibilities of laying a solid moral foundation for the younger generation have contributed largely to the incidences of crime and violence in Nigeria.

“I wish to emphasize that the maintenance of peace and security is of paramount importance to this administration. No country can satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of its p0eople in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity. While government and security agencies are working round the clock to deal with the current security challenges, it is important to appreciate that the citizens also have a role to play in assisting the security agencies with relevant information.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of National Institute For Cultural Orientation, NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma maintained that “the current crises in our socio-political and economic life have been attributed to the cultural disorientation of the citizenry.

“In place of the cherished cultural values of fair-play, kindness, patriotism and communal living, our citizens have imbibed negative practices of dishonesty, stealing, disrespect for elders, cultism, ritual killings and other related criminal acts, alien to our cultures. The get-rich-quick syndrome is the other of the day.

“It is therefore, our view that an understanding of the dialectical relationship between culture, development and national security is important in addressing the developmental needs of any given society”