Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd, said yesterday that the country stood the risk of disintegration, if the violence currently spreading in the system was allowed to fester.
Speaking with journalists at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State capital, the former head of state described the recent happening in some parts of the country as unfortunate.
“We at the National Peace Committee, wish to add our voice to the voices of millions of Nigerians calling for calm in these difficult times because these times demand that we all join hands to resolve our challenges so as to keep our country united. We do not have the luxury of trading blames.
“Thousands of our people are homeless and have refugees across the length and breadth of their own country.
“We know the difficulties that our farmers have faced in the last few years and that the harvests will be a serious challenge this year.
‘’Therefore, let us all rally in these hard times, make the required sacrifices and remain vigilant, standing by one another.’’
He appealed to governors to tone down their rhetoric and take full responsibility for managing their states’ divergent voices and frustrations.
He said, “It is true that we are all in a state of fear and collective anxiety. However, the last thing we need is for the enemy to sense a lack of unity on our part or a break in our ranks.
“We appeal to the new service chiefs and IGP to rise to the urgent demands of the moment by rallying their troops and designing the best strategy for ending the tragic war that has continued to consume and destroy the foundations of our dear country.
“We hope that based on their field experiences in the war, they can draw up a well-coordinated programme to ensure that all our resources are deployed to achieve the much-needed victory in this avoidable war.”
