The former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has said that dialogue among the diverse ethnic nationalities remained the only panacea for peaceful coexistence for all Nigerians.
“Government and the governed must be ready to make the necessary sacrifices for peace to reign,” IBB said, adding, “to achieve this, the over 200 ethnic groups and different religious groups must dialogue with one another as the best antidotes for conflict resolution.”
Babangida further argued that there was need for careful appraisals of ‘‘our journey to nationhood above individual or regional considerations.
“The resilience of armed forces of Nigeria to curtail secessionist agitations throughout our nation’s post-independence era has reduced tensions and unnecessary destruction of lives and properties.”
Babangida argued that, trying to silence agitations through the barrels of guns is fast becoming old fashioned hence the need to engage any aggrieved group on a round-table discussion as a way of granting sense of belonging to every segments of the Nigerian nation.
His words: “Dialogue remains the best option in resolving conflicts and agitations no matter how difficult it may seem.” He added that, recent conflicts and agitations, chanting slogans of war and hate speeches are derailing the nation’s development and unity and therefore needed to be ‘cautiously handled’.
IBB said, “As an active participant in the Civil War and as a retired military officer, with the hard lessons learnt, I will never be tired calling for the oneness and unity of our great nation. I will forever be ready to sacrifice for a united and prosperous Nigeria when called upon again.
“During our tenure in government we deliberately formulated policies, programmes, projects and even the creation of states to further weaken unwholesome agitations for secession and promote mutual and peaceful coexistence devoid of ethnic, religious and regional discriminations”.
Babangida emphasized the need for the federal, states and local governments to encourage mutual tolerance that would protect lives and properties of every Nigerian wherever he or she lives and wherever they feel at home in any part of the country as law-abiding citizens.
While urging Nigerians to pray and work towards peaceful coexistence and progress of Nigeria, Babangida advised all those beating drums or war through hate speeches to sheathe their swords and support the government in addressing socio-economic challenges.
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