Elderstateman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has urged State governors to intensify efforts at unifying Nigeria.
He made the call when a group, Nigeria for Peace Project, paid him an advocacy visit in Abuja.
The group is a combination of Citizens for Development and Education (CDE) and Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ).
Receiving the delegation, Clark expressed appreciation for the visit, saying such visit by young Nigerians was a welcome development.
While stating that Nigeria was bedevilled by a myriad of challenges ranging from corruption and insecurity, Clark called on the 36 State governors to pool resources together and ensure a united country.
“What are we fighting for, some of us have contributed our quota to the development of this country, I do not want a divided country,” he said.
The elderstateman further said: “I’m particularly happy to see all of you on such a mission which is out to unite Nigeria, where every Nigerian that Lord Lugard united in 1914 is equal to the other citizen.
“And can rise to any position in the country without fear or favour, without any malice.”
He stated that the groups were championing a good cause, adding that they were on the right path.
“At a time when everybody thought we are at a crossroad, with young men and women like you coming together from the North and South, we have no other country but Nigeria.
“We have no other place to go to but to stay in our country which is the biggest country in Africa.
“North alone cannot produce a President, South alone cannot produce a president. We need each other,” Clark said.
The Convener of the project and Executive Director, CDE, Mr Ibrahim Waiya, said the idea for the project was conceived at the wake of the 2023 general elections.
“This time around, we noticed that a lot of things are taking a different dimension where some people are taking advantage on the speculations for the call for interim government and that the inauguration should be withheld until after the declaration of the court.
“We want things to be done in a peaceful way. And we want things to be done in accordance with laid down principles and our extant laws,” Waiya stated.
Also, co-convener of the group, Mr Mulade Sheriff, who is the Executive Director, CEPEJ said that as youths “we need to sustain the peace of this country which can achieved through collective responsibility.”
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