In a message released to celebrate the recent St
Valentine’s Day, he called attention to the unity of Nigeria campaign, which he
said is being powered by the National leadership of
ELFON, Conveners of PROJECT UNITY NIGERIA.
The youth leader noted that since the amalgamation of
Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria, there has not been any
conscious effort to unite the country and create the awareness, saying that there
is no difference between Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Efik and Ijaw man; that we are
one people. He pointed out that:
“This lack of oneness is what is giving rise to all
these economic, religious, ethnic, security, and political problems.
“Take, for instance, the entire issue of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery, put all of them together, I don’t think they are up to 10,000 people nationwide, I don’t think they can chase away 2million plus people members of ELFON - Project Unity Nigeria Team if we get the needed support to advance our campaign for Nigeria's Unity.”
Ambassador Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel went further to
draw up an analysis of the matter.
“The case of Nigeria is simple: About 200 million Nigerians are not united, but about 10,000 who focused on banditry and other social vices are united against the rest.”
But what is the Project Unity Nigeria Campaign about
and how relevant will it be to solving the issue. The youth leader explains
more:
“Project Unity Nigeria Campaign will help us to
understand the need for oneness. One thing I realized as a politician in this
country is that our communication system is very bad. What the Southwestern and
Southsouthern leaders tell their people is different from what they say
nationally; what the Southeastern leaders and what the Northern leaders tell
their people is different from what they say in Abuja.
“When they go back home, they tell their people
‘Nigeria doesn’t want us, we are marginalized’, but when they come to Abuja,
you see them interacting, visit each other, having tea and coffee. They pass
wrong messages to ordinary citizens for selfish reasons.
“We have not communicated love, friendship, and
brotherhood to our people. We have not gone back to the Igbo man to say the
Hausa man is your brother, he loves you, or to the North to say the Yoruba man
loves you, he said.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s unity will continue to be
a “theoretical fabrication” that does not reflect any practical
realities until Progressive Minded Nigerians, concerned agencies, defenders of
Nigeria’s sovereignty and the presidency begin to take issues of Patriotism
serious and support genuine movements like ELFON’s Project Unity Nigeria
Campaign, and supporting the genuine hoisting of the Green White Green Nigerian
Flag to stand tall, dwarfing other seperatist flags.
“Some people claim that Nigeria is united, but in
practical terms, it’s far from being united. Ethnicity, religion and political
sentiments have divided this country beyond recognition and that is why even
members of same ruling political party don't work together as a team thereby
making it very difficult for the prime leader to govern this country, fight
insurgency, handle banditry and other criminal activities.
“This is why I and some Patriotic Emerging Leaders in
Nigeria birthed the PROJECT UNITY NIGERIA Campaign with My Flag! My Pride!!
slogan where all Nigerians will come together to constantly remind themselves
that we are better United as one People for a better Nigeria irrespective of
our diversities.Those calling for Nigeria's division can be better engaged for
a better Nigeria if we agree as a people. The Nigeria's Independence that we
celebrate today wouldn't have been achieved if those that pioneered it weren't
united,” he added.
He also called for a day to be celebrated as ‘Nigeria's
National Unity Day’ just as the world celebrates St.Valentines
today.
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