Leaders of the North-South Progressives Movement (NOSOP) have called on political, religious, traditional and business leaders to use their positions and influence to promote peace and unity in the country.
They made the call during their one-day meeting in Enugu.
In his speech titled: “Promoting Nigerianism and Inspiring Faith in One Nigeria”, the national coordinator of NOSOP, Dr John Nwobodo, said “North or South, East or West, we are one.”
Nwobodo said, “We believe that we can break the walls of ethnicity and religious bigotry which have held us backward as a nation; We believe that North or South, we are brothers and we are friends.
His words, “Against the backdrop of pessimism about one Nigeria by many of our countrymen and women, we feel a burning duty to stand in the gap and be the shining light as agents of unity and poised to quell and quench the voices of dissents.
“Nigeria has come of age; reckoned from the amalgamation in 1914, we are in our 109th year. We have passed many phases in our evolution as a country: colonial rule, independence era, the first republic, the Military take-over and coups, a 30-month civil war, the second republic, the aborted third republic and now, the Fourth Republic.
“We have seen ups and downs, the good, the bad, and the ugly but in all we are more than conquerors. It is my conviction that we have remained together till now that we are destined to co-exist and we must do all we can to make the co-existence peaceful and fulfilling.
“It is indeed not a task that can be achieved overnight. For this purpose, NOSOP was formed.
“I am pleased and exhilarated to welcome you to Enugu, the Coal City State, for this epoch-making event. This event is convened to lay a foundation for a Nigeria through social ecumenism of peace advocacy.
“This event in itself is a bold statement that one Nigeria is a continuing possibility despite the inundating factors which often beset genuine efforts at inspiring faith in one Nigeria,” he said.
The group congratulated the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all other candidates declared winners in the just concluded general elections.
Also, the national publicity secretary of NOSOP, Ambassador Oke Idawene, who responded to reporters’ questions during the interactive session, said the Enugu gathering was the first national meeting of NOSOP Officers.
Idawene said he was happy with the large turnout of their members at the maiden meeting, stressing that the choice of Patrons/Patroness of the organisation cut across ethnicity, religion and political affiliations.
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