Nigeria is a great nation, immensely endowed with vast human and material resources.
With a vast green area and a population of over 200 million people, the possibilities of Nigeria’s greatness are almost limitless.
The rest of Africa looks to Nigeria to provide the necessary leadership to galvanize the continent toward the realization of its growth and development vision.
Many African leaders, both past and present, have openly stated that when Nigeria sneezes, the rest of Africa suffers. This demonstrates Africa’s regard for Nigeria as a big brother and African giant.
Indeed, Nigeria has maintained the demeanor befitting its position as Africa’s leader. Among others, the country led the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.
Nigeria played a leading role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) as well as the African Union (AU). It also played a key role in the formation of ECOMOG in the efforts to restore peace, law and order in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
AVOID UNDUE POLITICAL TENSION
It is highly worrisome that the just concluded 2023 presidential election of February 25 has brought about undue political tension.
The presidential election has been held and the results have been announced.
The right thing to do now is for citizens to come together as patriotic Nigerians and as stakeholders in the Nigeria project, to earnestly commence the process of rebuilding the nation.
In politics, there has to be a winner and a loser. The beauty of any political game, like every other game, is for the losers to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship and for the winner to be magnanimous in victory.
Candidates who emerged victorious should reach out to those who lost in the spirit of mutual respect and statesmanship. Nigerians should desist from all forms of provocative statements that tend to mock or undermine the sensibility of those that lost in the election.
SERVICE TO FATHER LAND
It is clear that all presidential aspirants came off with genuine enthusiastic intention and burning desire to serve the nation. Although, the approaches maybe different, the underlining motivation is service to the nation, in the greatest interest of Nigeria.
It is pertinent to point out that Nigerians have no other country outside Nigeria.
This is why leaders and stakeholders must continue to lead in the campaign to ensure sustainable peace, national unity and harmonious co-existence.
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE PEACE
Now that the nation is looking forward for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election, the circumstances of the moment call for the intervention of political leaders and past heads of state who are still alive, religious leaders through their various organizations and Traditional Institutions to help chart the course for sustainable peace in Nigeria.
As former President Goodluck Jonathan once said, that the electoral victory of anybody does not worth the blood of another Nigerian.
Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. Nigerians must continue to be united so that the labour of our hero’s past shall not be in vain.
Writing by Olusegun Runsewe; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare