…says 1970 unfulfilled agreements, declarations hunting Nigeria’s peace

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- AS Nigerians remain under siege of insecurity, a non-profit making organization, One Love Foundation, OLF, Friday, called on the Federal Government and other leaders across the six geopolitical zones to rise together and address current threats to national unity.

Speaking with Vanguard over spate of insecurity perpetrated by various armed groups across the country, the Founder and President, One Love Foundation, OLF, Patriot Patrick Eholor, said there is no time to waste if the nation wants to avoid and avert something more disastrous than the 1967 Civil War.

Eholor who spoke with concern said the way out of the present insecurity siege is not just to be left in the hands of military and other security agencies, but every traditional, religious, youth, women, socio-cultural group, political and civil society leaders are to synergise in collaboration with heads of security agencies are to urgently meet to quench the fire already burning from snowballing into whirl fire that would engulf and bring down the building called Nigeria.

He said: “The leadership should realize why, where and how they failed and honestly and holistically put policies and measures to correct the wrongs. If this happens the resolution to the crisis or conflict will not be far fetched.  History taught us that it has been the inaction of those who could have acted.

“The indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it matters most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.  We must rise as passionate Nigerians to speak against perpetuation of injustice.”

 He also queried, “Why will the leadership pretend and being insensitive as if all is well. The bandits, armed herdsmen, Boko Haram, secession agitating groups are all proportionately equal menace to the peace and growth of the nation and should be handled with equal zeal and approach. 

“They are equal threat to the peace, growth and stability of the nation. If they are differently it becomes questionable.  The government went extra mile to repatriate the IPOB leader back to Nigeria to face justice that same zeal and energy should be expended on other sects and issues threatening the peace and existence of our nation. There should be no double standards.

“All conflicts has an empirical approach and methodology to achieve the desired result or outcome. The preventive approach is much desired because all techniques must be applied in the policies of the leadership to avoid occurrence.

“The civil societies, well meaning activists and stakeholders should speak up fearlessly and with a collective mindset and mission to make the Nigeria project work. One Nigeria. One love.”

However, the social crusader alleged failure to fulfill declaration and promises made in 1970 after the Civil War currently hunts peace of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“The nation is embroiled with the most heated and intense crises not witnessed since the end of the 1967-1970 Civil War that claimed lots of lives and destruction of infrastructures and psychological trauma it brought. 

“The rhetoric slogan of ‘no victor no vanquished’ was a supposedly declaration to end the war, and after the period of reconciliation, reconstruction and reintegration of all parties into the mainstream as a show and demonstration of one Nigeria.

“In practice a lot said and undone has taken us aback to this sad question and reality. Is the war truly ended and are all parties adequately and sincerely accommodated and carried along as part of one entity Nigeria project.

“The truth to this question is emphatically no. What brought about the war in the first place unfortunately still prevails in no small dimension. If there is no holistic approach to true reconciliation, reconstruction and reintegration then we have not learnt the ugly lesson of war. In the existing policies of the leadership the south easterners are vanquished people.

“This have endured overtime that the taste and zeal for one Nigeria is gradually evaporating.  These gave rise to agitation and secessionists group, and very unpopular and not ideal for our collective destiny but something need to be done to address with sincerity the issues that gave rise to the agitation. 

“Other regional groups are rearing its head and beating the same drum. This trend is quite disturbing and threatening the unity of this country. We have witnessed unprecedented nepotic style of administration and marginalization presently and heightened insecurity.

“The nepotic leadership style we are witnessing does not make everyone feel belonged and the frustration gave rise the gradual rolling of Nigeria into a failed state. It could have been prevented.  Management of the crisis or conflict requires a moment of truth”, he stated.