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FG confirms Lokoja as centenary anniversary host
FG confirms Lokoja as centenary anniversary host
With the mounting
political, socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation and
the consequent plan to convoke a national conference by the President Goodluck
Jonathan administration, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that nothing
can break up the country.
political, socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation and
the consequent plan to convoke a national conference by the President Goodluck
Jonathan administration, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that nothing
can break up the country.
Obasanjo, who spoke
through an aide, Bishop Sunday Onouha, in Abuja, likened the coming together of
different nationalities to form the country, Nigeria, to a Christian marriage
where divorce is abhorred.
through an aide, Bishop Sunday Onouha, in Abuja, likened the coming together of
different nationalities to form the country, Nigeria, to a Christian marriage
where divorce is abhorred.
The former president, who
also admonished the media on the need to paint a positive picture of the
country, spoke at a three-day Global Peace Leadership Conference held from
November 7 to 9 at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
also admonished the media on the need to paint a positive picture of the
country, spoke at a three-day Global Peace Leadership Conference held from
November 7 to 9 at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
According to him, “We
should plead with those that paint the picture of the country to speak the
truth, which is that: we live in peace. The media should focus on those things
that keep us together.”
should plead with those that paint the picture of the country to speak the
truth, which is that: we live in peace. The media should focus on those things
that keep us together.”
Using an analogy to
buttress the indivisibility of the country, Obasanjo told a story of a young
couple, in which a rat ate part of the leg of the bride while she was asleep.
“This made the groom to purchase a rat trap which made the intruder to run out
and complain about the wickedness of humans to fellow domestic animals like the
chicken, goat and cow.
buttress the indivisibility of the country, Obasanjo told a story of a young
couple, in which a rat ate part of the leg of the bride while she was asleep.
“This made the groom to purchase a rat trap which made the intruder to run out
and complain about the wickedness of humans to fellow domestic animals like the
chicken, goat and cow.
“These animals did not see
any reason to sympathise with the rat, because, according to them, the trap was
not meant for them. A snake found its way into the couple’s apartment and bit
the bride while she was asleep. The resultant death of the young bride left the
groom devastated.
any reason to sympathise with the rat, because, according to them, the trap was
not meant for them. A snake found its way into the couple’s apartment and bit
the bride while she was asleep. The resultant death of the young bride left the
groom devastated.
“On a cold night without a
wife to soothe him, the groom killed the chicken to prepare pepper soup; he
also ordered for the killing of the goat for sympathisers who came to console
him. On the day of the wake-keep, the cow was slaughtered to serve guests.”
wife to soothe him, the groom killed the chicken to prepare pepper soup; he
also ordered for the killing of the goat for sympathisers who came to console
him. On the day of the wake-keep, the cow was slaughtered to serve guests.”
The lesson, Obasanjo said,
“We are all related.”
“We are all related.”
In a communique released
at the end of the conference which had as theme: “Building Sustainable Peace
for a Prosperous Future,” the organisers observed that the media should be
proactive, patriotic, unbiased and never be seen to be taking sides during
conflicts.
at the end of the conference which had as theme: “Building Sustainable Peace
for a Prosperous Future,” the organisers observed that the media should be
proactive, patriotic, unbiased and never be seen to be taking sides during
conflicts.
Meanwhile, the Federal
Government at the weekend, laid to rest the controversy surrounding the venue
of Nigeria’s centenary anniversary celebration, which has raged between
the two neighbouring states of Kogi and Niger, jostling to host the celebration
as the first headquarters of the country.
Government at the weekend, laid to rest the controversy surrounding the venue
of Nigeria’s centenary anniversary celebration, which has raged between
the two neighbouring states of Kogi and Niger, jostling to host the celebration
as the first headquarters of the country.
The Minister of
Information and National Orientation, Labaran Maku, who cleared the air in
Lokoja, during a courtesy visit on Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, as part
of the Federal Government-initiated National Good Governance Tour, said Lokoja
is so dear to the Federal Government because of its historical background as
the first capital of Nigeria.
Information and National Orientation, Labaran Maku, who cleared the air in
Lokoja, during a courtesy visit on Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, as part
of the Federal Government-initiated National Good Governance Tour, said Lokoja
is so dear to the Federal Government because of its historical background as
the first capital of Nigeria.
Maku commended the state
governor for his developmental stride, adding that he will be glad to come back
to Lokoja soon to join the people to celebrate the nation’s 100 years as the
first capital of Nigeria.
governor for his developmental stride, adding that he will be glad to come back
to Lokoja soon to join the people to celebrate the nation’s 100 years as the
first capital of Nigeria.
The minister lamented the
attitude of Nigerian politicians, with their perpetual negative criticism about
every step taken by the government to better the lot of the people.
attitude of Nigerian politicians, with their perpetual negative criticism about
every step taken by the government to better the lot of the people.
Admitting that criticism
is allowed in politics and governance, he said it must, however, be healthy, so
that it will not look as if one is running down government because one is not
part of the government.
is allowed in politics and governance, he said it must, however, be healthy, so
that it will not look as if one is running down government because one is not
part of the government.
He said the essence of the
good governance tour is not to witch-hunt the people of rival political
parties’ states, or any one for that matter, but to do on-the-spot assessment
of projects embarked upon by the federal, states and local governments, to know
how they translate into the dividend of democracy.
good governance tour is not to witch-hunt the people of rival political
parties’ states, or any one for that matter, but to do on-the-spot assessment
of projects embarked upon by the federal, states and local governments, to know
how they translate into the dividend of democracy.
Earlier, Governor Wada
said his state is blessed with abundant mineral resources, as well as
historical relics from the colonial administration, which ran the country from
the city before independence in 1960.
said his state is blessed with abundant mineral resources, as well as
historical relics from the colonial administration, which ran the country from
the city before independence in 1960.
Source: Daily Newswatch
