Jerry Gana
A former
Minister of Information and current National President of the Middle Belt
Forum, Prof. Jerry Gana, has told northerners preaching division that
if
Nigeria breaks, the minorities in the Middle Belt will not follow them.
Gana said
this while delivering a sermon at the St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama, Diocese of
Abuja (Anglican Communion), in Abuja on Sunday.
The Middle
Belt is believed to have the largest number of ethnic groups in Nigeria.
The former
minister, who was the guest preacher, therefore, lambasted the Coalition of
Arewa Youth Groups for issuing a quit notice to Igbo living in the North.
Gana said,
“They think when it comes to break-up, we will go along with the North. We have
already told them that if they allow this country to break up, we are not going
with the North. We are staying where we are. So, just take notice. If it comes
to that, we will tell you that you are Arewa and we are
‘Middle-Belters.’
“We love
Nigeria and it was changed to a federal system because of the minorities so
that we can have a place. So, we love Nigeria but in the unlikely event that
people want to go their way, the Arewa in the Sahel will go. But we will remain
here in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The former
minister also slammed a former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University
and the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, for
supporting the quit notice issued by the northern youths.
Gana said
nobody had the right to dictate to a citizen of Nigeria where he could live.
He added,
“One of them, who also spoke is a former vice-chancellor. I thank God he didn’t
sign my certificate. My own was signed by Prof. Ishaya Audu. How can a man of
that stature, of that status, of that level of leadership, says he supports the
youths in Kaduna to give to other legitimate citizens, an order to go? Who are
you? Who says that?
“In this
country, there are no second-class citizens. We are all first class. We are all
sons and daughters of this land and that was why I decided to call a conference
of all the minorities from 14 states and we had to state in clear words that
the quit notice was totally unconstitutional. This is our home.”
Gana said
the way forward was for the Federal Government to embrace restructuring as the
solution to the nation’s challenges or the nation would die.
Gana, who
said even former presidents were beginning to support restructuring, advised
the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to entertain dialogue and
debate.
The
ex-minister said, “In democracy, dialogue is the language, consultation is the
way. Two cannot work together unless they agree. So, there needs to be dialogue
and mutual respect.
“Anywhere
you have diversity of ethnicity or religion in the world, the type of system
that works is federalism. And that is the way. And each one must build his
federal system the way it suits him. It cannot be imposed; it cannot be
engineered in favour of one person.”
Meanwhile, a
former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has urged Nigerians to shun
all forms of violence, criminal acts and behaviour capable of dividing the
country.
The
News Agency of Nigeria reported that Gowon made the call on Sunday in
Sokoto at a one-day National Prayer Rally organised by Nigeria Prays.
“We should
value the lives of our fellow human beings that God has created for a purpose.
May we never take lives with impunity.
“We are
offering fervent prayers that Nigerians will never raise their hands against
one another.
“They should
love one another irrespective of religious, ideological, political and ethnic
affinities,” he added.
Gowon, the
National Convener, Nigeria Prays, appealed to Nigerians to collectively pray
for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also
urged Nigerians to pray for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and leaders at
all levels.
He solicited
for sustained prayers for peace, unity and socio-economic prosperity of
Nigeria.
Gowon said,
“Prayer can solve problems better and faster than soldiers, as well as physical
weapons of war.
“I have no
doubt in my heart that God will honour our collective prayer and intercession
for our dear nation, as well as heal our nation of insecurity.
“May we
experience abundance of God’s mercy and showers of blessings over our lives and
our nation as we raise our voices in heartfelt prayers today in Sokoto, ‘’ he
said.
The
North-West Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, Bishop Godwin Okafor, said the
rally was organised to pray for sustained peace, unity and stability of
Nigeria.
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