Ethnic, religious intolerance will divide Nigeria if… –Jonathan President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has said that, religious and ethnic intolerance among Nigerians will divide the country if care is not taken. He said, Nigeria has experienced new security challenges that were not envisaged in recent past, as exemplified by the various terrorist attacks in parts of the country. President Jonathan stated this in Kaduna yesterday at the graduation of 158 Nigerian and foreign military officers and some civilians from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji. Represented by the Vice President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, the President said: “The greatest danger to our collective security as a people and a nation, lies in the peril of ethnic and religious intolerance”. Adding that, if the twin evils are not checked, they were capable of threatening the nation’s corporate existence as one sovereign and indivisible nation. According to President Jonathan, “within our domestic environment, the challenges of maintaining peace and security remain primarily that of the civil populace. However, the recent security challenges confronting us have made it necessary for the armed forces to play a crucial role”. While commending the effort of the armed forces for the role currently played to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria, especially in the North Eastern part of the country, Jonathan expressed optimism that with the perseverance, commitment, dedication and loyalty, the graduating officers will contribute their own quota to the national development of their countries. “For the Nigerian officers, government on its part will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that the armed forces is well equipped to meet all forms of threat that may arise in the spectrum of conflict both in peace and war. I believe that for other officers from our friendly countries, your government will do the same. “Gentlemen officers, in defending the peace today, we are faced with new security challenges that were not envisage some years back, as exemplified by the various terrorist attacks being experienced in some parts of the country. “The greatest danger to our collective security as a people and a nation lies in the peril of ethnic and religious intolerance. These twin evils, if not checked, are capable of threatening our corporate existence as one sovereign and indivisible nation. “You must therefore discourage such sentiments and encourage your men to view themselves as comrades in the pursuit of a common destiny. Furthermore, you must continue to anticipate and reflect on the ideals that we all cherish as a people and remember that as members of the armed forces, you will be judged by the type of leadership you give to the men under your command”, he said. On the global scene, President Jonathan reaffirmed Nigerian government’s commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security, adding that, Nigeria will continue to collaborate with other African governments to promote peace, stability and development in the continent. “To this end, the nation would require your services as members of the armed forces of a protection force in multinational operations within the continent and beyond. “You must therefore live up to expectation and uphold the nation’s ideals in all the numerous peace keeping operations in which you may be called upon to participate. Earlier in his address, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Eko Effiom Osim, said the 158 graduating students included 21 allied students from 14 African countries and South Korea. While he conferred the award of Passed Staff Course (psc) on the student officers, the commandant charged them to go back to their various services and countries to be good ambassadors of the college. The Sun
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 04:41:32 +0000
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