The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unity

  • Al-Makura seeks unity

    Al-Makura seeks unity

    Governor Umaru Tanko Al – Makura of Nasarawa State has urged  Muslims to use the spiritual lessons of the just-concluded Ramadan season  as formidable tools to rebuild the fabric of national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s common destiny as one indivisible entity.

    In a special Sallah Message  in Lafia, the state capital  through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur,  Al – Makura  expressed optimism thatNigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary of the spiritual lessons  from the Ramadan season.

    Al – Makura said that the benefits of the spiritual lessons achieved from the fasting should be used  to take a spiritual stock of our lives as a nation and reaffirm our common humanity and our unity as a country.

    He call on the citizens to  build bridges of brotherhood to harness the benefits of earthly life and the ultimate purpose of creation.

  • Don’t relent on your unity mission, Ooni told

    Don’t relent on your unity mission, Ooni told

    The Alahun of Ahun in Efon, Ekiti State Jacob Adelowo has urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to ensure the continued socio-political and cultural well-being of the Yoruba.
    He made the call during a courtesy visit to the Ife monarch recently. He added that the development of Yoruba land should be embraced by well-meaning Nigerians from the Southwest geo-political zone.
    Adelowo further explained that Yoruba land looks forward to the Ife traditional institution to ensure peace and progress for the people. He said Yoruba people are among the sophisticated ethnic groups in the world.
    Adelowo said the people of Ahun who came from Ife centuries ago, hold tenaciously to the strong belief that Ife is the cradle of civilisation, stressing that Ahun and other Yoruba people will continue to seek the blessings of Ife for better life.
    He said when Alahun Moka-Moye took members of the Ogbooru Adimula-Ilare Royal House from Ile-Ife to settle at Efon in Ekiti, the historical sojourn led to a well-established cultural tie among the people.
    Presenting a book entitled A Brief History of Ahun Efon to the Ooni, Adelowo said: “Alahun gave Efon its present name ‘Efon’ because the people were catching buffalos alive.
    “The buffalos usually prevented people from settling on the land and embark on their means of subsistence. Alahun Mokamoya was able to suppress the threat from the rampaging buffalos. In view of this exploit, the place became known as Efon land.”
    He added that the socio-cultural and religious links between Ife and Ahun were so enormous that, it will be a disservice to generations yet unborn if the history is not documented for posterity.
    “In fact, the Alahun moved from Ife to Ahun with all the monarchical paraphernalia. They are still replete in the Ahun traditional institution in the present circumstance.
    “I must say we thank your imperial Majesty for granting this delegation audience. We pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding for you to play your fatherly role in the Yoruba nation.”
    Responding, Ooni Ogunwusi said the visit was timely, adding that he would always respond to whatever would lead to the unity and progress of the entire Yoruba land.
    He commended Adelowo, his wife Olori Olayinka who presented the book and other members, noting that the visit was a home-coming visit.
    He added that the people should feel free to make their proposals because the unity of the entire Yoruba land could not be superseded by any narrow interest.

  • Promote peace, unity, Okorocha urges Corps members

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has advised National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to promote peaceful co-existence and unity.

    The governor said building unity and peace remained the core objectives of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.

    Okorocha spoke at the swearing-in of the NYSC Batch “A” 2016 (Stream II) at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Eziama Obaire, Orlu Local Government Area. He was represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere.

    While congratulating the Corps members for scaling through academic hurdles, the governor urged them to make friends with people from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures, saying they are all brothers irrespective of their mothers’ tongues.

    Okorocha advised them to exhibit high-level dedication, commitment and diligence in the outlined activities at the camp, saying the “Nigerian spirit” is resilient, enterprising and patriotic.

    He urged the Corps members to take skill acquisition programme seriously, noting that the programme was designed to make them entrepreneurs and self-reliant. He promised his administration’s preparedness to continue its support for the scheme, warning against destructive vices.

    The Imo State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Isaac Fasanu, hailed Okorocha for building befitting orientation camp for the Corps members.

    He said NYSC was created to give youths physical and mental preparedness to attain their future goals. He said the scheme’s programmes were geared towards instilling zeal and patriotism in the Corps members.

  • Ooni preaches unity

    Ooni preaches unity

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has urged unity among his people.

    He spoke when he visited one of  those who challenged him for the stool, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin.

    Adedoyin is the proprietor of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    The visit has been described as  historic and symbolic.

    The visit to Adedoyin’s Castle of Peace residence was in continuation of the Ooni’s peace move to Yoruba elders.

    The visit was initiated by a prominent Ife indigene and president, Ife Business School, Dr. Ademakinwa Aderanti.

    The Ooni appealed to the people of Ife to join him in taking town to a greater high.

    He said he was happy to have met Dr. Adedoyin, the man he  had heard a lot of good things about,  especially, his  efforts in making Ile- Ife a  business hub. He hailed Adedoyin for establishing a university, a polytechnic, First Access Microfinance Bank, Hilton Hotels and others in Ife.

    Adedoyin thanked the Ooni for the visit , saying  he had no regrets setting up his businesses in Ile-Ife.

    Adedoyin promised to  support Oba Ogunwusi.

    “I’m not the Ooni of Ife. I promise to support you in all ramifications. I’m going to give a greater gift to all Ife people that nobody in history has ever given,” he said.

  • Saraki, Dogara to Nigerians: pray for peace, unity

    Saraki, Dogara to Nigerians: pray for peace, unity

    President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara have urged Muslim faithful to use the period of this year’s Ramadan to pray for peace, security and God’s intervention in tackling the myriad socio—economic challenges confronting the nation.

    Saraki thanked God for the grace to participate in another holy obligation as enjoined by the Holy Quran.

    He said: “We have entered into another season of rededication to the worship of God and service to humanity. This is a major commandment to mankind and a season of sacrifice and forgiveness. I enjoin all Muslim faithful to rededicate themselves to the true ideals of Islam as a religion of peace.

    “Let us exploit the grace in this season to seek God’s divine intervention in our lingering economic and security challenges. As a nation, we need God’s power to overcome our present situation. Fasting is not mere abstinence from food, drink and worldly pleasures alone, but a time to seek Allah’s power through prayers to be able to faithfully carry out the sublime injunctions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SWT) who was sent by Almighty Allah to show humanity the way of holiness, peace and brotherly kindness,” he said.

    Dogara said the country is in dire need of special prayers in view of the present state of the economy and the security situation in the nation.

  • All for unity

    All for unity

    The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) has held its Nativity Night to celebrate Nigerian cultures. ISOLA TAIWO (Human Anatomy) reports.

    As life gradually returns to  Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, with the military’s routing of Boko Haram, so has the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) been bubbling with social activities. It was a week of cultures at the school when Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) held its Nativity Night to promote peace and tolerance.

    The event turned out to be the biggest cultural activity on the campus, with tudents from different ethnic groups displaying their cultures. Students of Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Idoma, Urhobo and Efik turned out in stock colourful traditional attires, symbolising their respective cultures.

    The Hausa students adorned Babanriga and native caps; their Yoruba counterparts looked beautiful in Agbada Aso Oke with Abeti Aja caps to match. Igbo students sparkled in their native Ankara robes, beads and walking sticks; while the Ijaw students walked majestically in their native attires. Each group carried its cultural totems, such as calabashes, baskets and tubers of yam, to stage performance.

    The event started with food exhibition, where traditional delicacies, such as banga soup, edika-ikong, tuwo-shinkafa, fura de nunu, ewedu and amala were served. The exhibition afforded the participants opportunity to taste other ethnic groups’ delicacies.

    A Yoruba student, Lanre Sontan, said it was his first time to taste edika-ikong with garri, adding that the food was “extremely delicious”.

    In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Ibrahim Ndoji, haled the organisers of the event, adding that it was a platform where students could learn each other’s culture. He stressed the need for unity and peaceful coexistence in the country, adding that people must not allow ethnicity, religion and politics divide them.

    Entertaining the guests, a drama group, Multi Mirror, acted a play, which reflected the need for unity, peace and love among all ethnic nationalities.

    Speaking on the theme of the event, Unity in diversity, the RCF president, Levi Bulus, said the aim of the event was to enable students tolerate one another irrespective of their cultural background.

    The highpoints were dance performances and beauty pageant that had all the ethnic groups represented. Each displayed its culture and traditions. Guests and students were thrilled with the display, which elicited thunderous applause from the audience.

    After the pageant, an artiste, Sanmi Adeyemi, thrilled the audience with his exceptional play on saxophone.

    While describing the event as a success, chairman of the organising committee, Dorcas Kingsley, said promotion of peace and unity was the motivation for the event. “Despite the challenges we encountered, we are sure that this event has fostered peace in the university community and brought fear of God to the mind of the students,” she said.

    A participant, Uche Benedict, who was excited during cultural display by Hausa students, said: “I interacted freely and saw how other ethnic groups celebrated their culture.”

    Another participant, Chuks Anyaogu, said: “The event has added good values to my life. It has helped me to learn how to relate with people from various cultural and religious backgrounds. The Shata dance from the Hausa and the Tiv’s dance fascinated me the most. I also love the Igbo’s presentation, because they display their culture proudly. This really shows that we need love and unity in this country. We should not be fighting ourselves because we are all people from the same root.”

    The event was rounded off with dance presentation by Aladura group.

  • Akpabio, Obasa preach love, unity

    Akpabio, Obasa preach love, unity

    Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa have felicitated with the Christian faithful on Easter, advising them to continue to live in love and harmony.

    Akpabio, who spoke in a separate message through his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, noted that Easter “is about love and the sacrificial death of Christ. It is about showing love to others and living lives worthy of emulation.”

    He urged Christians to imbibe Christ’s qualities of love and sacrifice.

    The former Akwa Ibom State governor called on Nigerians to pray for Nigeria and continue to seek its progress.

    He noted that “together in unity, we can overcome challenges facing our country”.

    “And to achieve that unity, there must always be love among us, irrespective of our religious, ethnic or political differences,” the Senate Minority leader said.

    Obasa urged Nigerians to see the Easter period as an opportunity to increase their efforts at showing love and promoting peace among mankind.

    The Speaker, in his Easter message, urged Nigerians not to relent in supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) governments at the centre and state levels in their efforts to put in place programmes and measures to improve the standard of living of Nigerians.

    Obasa, in a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to emulate Jesus Christ, who, he said, through his love for mankind decided to sacrifice his life for people to live.

    “Easter is a period to share love and promote peace. Jesus Christ lived and died for peace and love to reign and we can emulate the exemplary life of Christ by becoming promoters of peace and love.

    “No society achieves greatness and growth in the absence of love and peace, hence, the need for us to continue to show love and spread peace among ourselves ,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.

    He urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves and redouble their efforts at supporting and cooperating with the President Muhammad Buhari administration and the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led government.

    “Government alone cannot revive the country. We need your support and cooperation always because in salvaging this country from the past maladministration, all hands must be on deck,” he said.

  • Ooni wants Nigerians to work for peace, unity

    Ooni wants Nigerians to work for peace, unity

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi yesterday asked Nigerians, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences to work diligently towards sustaining the country’s hard-won unity.

    ‘’It is one Nigeria and forever it will be one Nigeria, with all of us the citizens as one,” Oba Ogunwusi told newsmen in Sokoto.

    Nigerians, according to him, should set aside their diverse backgrounds to ensure that the country remains indivisible.

    ‘’ I am an advocate of peace and we as traditional rulers from across the country would sustain the royal fraternities,” he said, stressing the need for traditional rulers to encourage routine visits to their counterparts from other parts of the country.

    Doing so, the royal father said, would foster more harmonious relationship, peace, unity and socio-economic prosperity of the country.

    He also stressed that the amalgamation of the country in 1914 was never a mistake.

    The Ooni further urged traditional rulers in the country as those closer to the people to always work together in the interest of their people and the nation.

  • School promotes unity at Cultural Day

    School promotes unity at Cultural Day

    With colourful attires and demonstrations from various tribes of Nigeria, pupils of Access International School, Magboro, Ogun State promoted virtues of a united Nigeria during their cultural day.

    Activities at the event were translated in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Calabar languages at every turn.

    The primary and secondary pupils and their teachers presented various dance styles, foods, history, attires, speech and other cultural norms of various tribes in Nigeria.

    The Yoruba teacher, Mr Azeez Adeleke, who explained the origin of the Yoruba culture, urged parents to teach children their mother language as it always promotes morality.

    Head teacher of the school’s primary arm, Mr Yaw Agyei, a Ghanian who also explained the history of his kinsmen to pupils, said culture and training go together.

    An SS 1 pupil, Praise Bassey, who featured with the Calabar troupe in dance and food presentation, urged her peers to stay united and learn their mother language, despite their different tribes, to build an enviable Nigeria.

    Proprietor of the school, Dr Jonathan Akpan, said the school is dedicated to imparting knowledge and cultural unity on pupils through its programmes and activities.

    He said: “We join hands in our school to lift up various tribes in our country. That shows that Nigeria is still one, despite our economic and tribal upheavals.  Our languages are even spoken beyond Nigeria and people in other countries also stick to theirs.

    “Mother tongue is important and should be compulsory in schools. We should stop  the act of replac ing our language by speaking   English Language to  our children always . Parents should try to teach their children their language. The school cannot employ teachers to teach the children all the tribes so it  must start from home.”

  • Bamidele calls for unity in Ekiti APC

    Bamidele calls for unity in Ekiti APC

    Former House of Representatives member Opeyemi Bamidele has advised All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ekiti State with governorship ambitions to shelve it and work towards rebuilding the party.

    He said the priority of all leaders and members of Ekiti APC is to promote unity, rebuild the party and make it an election-winning platform in 2018.

    Bamidele spoke in Iyin-Ekiti, at a rally to mark his formal return to the party at the ward level.

    He pleaded for forgiveness from anybody he might have offended with his movement to Labour Party (LP) in 2014.

    The former lawmaker  was received by party leaders, including Ekiti Central senatorial chairman, Chief George Ojo; Acting Chairman, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye; working committee members, local government and party ward leaders.

    Bamidele denied pursuing a spoiler role against former Governor Kayode Fayemi, saying he was neither a traitor nor a desperado.

    While advocating a better and stronger party ahead of  future polls, the former lawmaker pledged to work with other leaders.

    He said: “I want to assure you that my coming to the party will be known for good and God will use me to uplift the party’s glory.

    “The governorship election is still in 2018, let everybody put their ambitions aside.

    “We must rebuild the party and work towards unity because it is when the party is strong that it can become an election-winning platform.

    “The lesson for everyone is that no individual or group can do it alone because our strength is in our unity.

    “But I want to apologise to whoever I must have offended by my defection to LP to contest at that time.

    “In politics, differences can come in diverse ways. It has come for us in APC and we lost an election, so what should be paramount to us now is reconciliation and how to restructure our party.”