The former president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called on youths to harness their talents in promoting national unity.
Dr Jonathan made the call on Friday in Abuja during the exclusive command performance by the Common Wealth Community Choir.
The performance by the choir also known as Port-Harcourt Male Ensemble was themed: “Peace for All Nations.”
Speaking on the theme of the event, Jonathan observed that youths were divided, a development which he said spells doom for the nation.
He cited an example of disregard for the National Youth Council by Regional Youths Bodies as confrontational and not healthy for national development.
”I was discussing with one of my friends and I said look, in Nigeria, they appear not to even have a national youth body. Because in most cases, the regional youth bodies are stronger than the national youth body,” he said.
“Ordinarily, the national youth body is supposed to be stronger than the regional youth body.
“That shows clearly that we are in trouble, the unity of the nation is questionable.”
The former Bayelsa State Governor therefore urged youths to collectively uphold the unity and peace of the country.
“Keep the flag flying and try to use your talents to impress on the unity of Nigeria.
“We must first have a nation before you talk about security and economic development.
“If the youths of this nation come together to have a common focus on Peace, Nigeria will definitely develop and get to the destination we all strive for,” he added.
The Special ECOWAS Envoy also lauded organizers of the programme for their efforts noting that “when you see young people come together to perform with the theme: ‘Peace for All Nations,’ I am quite impressed.”
Speaking earlier, the host of the programme and Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Geoffrey Onyema said the event marked the commencement of the execution of the mandate that has been entrusted to the choir by the Commonwealth.
He said as part of its mandates, the choir was expected to undertake a global tour of the Commonwealth nations to promote peace and development through music.
Also present at the event held at the Rotunda Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja was Pastor Seyi Malomo, the representative of Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Osinbajo said peace in the society was one of the invincible cement that made everything to work.
“If you remove that peace, everything will somehow collapse. So, peace cannot be coming at a more appropriate time when we are in celebration season of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who the Bible says is the Prince of Peace,” he said.
