‘Convert Nigeria’s Diversity Into Asset, Not Liability’ — Ganduje Tells Ex-Deputy Governors

Former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged Nigerian leaders to show the nation’s ethnic and cultural variety into an asset slightly than a legal responsibility, saying nationwide unity should stay a collective duty.

Ganduje made the decision on Tuesday whereas delivering his goodwill message on the fifth annual convention of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria, chaired by former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, with former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, serving as co-chair.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s colonial historical past, Ganduje stated the nation’s amalgamation was pushed by the financial pursuits of colonial authorities slightly than a real need to unite its numerous peoples.

“The colonial masters, when they came as missionaries and through other routes, met us with different cultures and diverse leadership systems. They decided to put us together to produce raw materials in order to develop their own country. That was their motive, not an objective that we should come together in unity,” he stated.

He, nevertheless, recommended Nigeria’s First Republic politicians for growing a way of nationalism that helped safe the nation’s independence from Britain.

“We have to thank our First Republic politicians, who developed a sense of nationalism in order to get independence, form political parties, and they succeeded,” Ganduje stated.

According to him, Nigeria was lucky to have secured independence by political stress and organised actions slightly than armed battle, not like another international locations.

“We are so lucky we didn’t carry arms like other countries in order to get our independence. We got our independence through pressure groups,” he stated.

Ganduje, nevertheless, lamented that the nationalist outlook of a number of the nation’s founding political leaders later gave approach to ethnic concerns, with political events more and more organised alongside ethnic traces.

“But later, those former leaders who were nationalistic in outlook became tribalistic in attitude because the political parties were based on ethnicity,” he stated.

The former governor stated the expertise underscored the necessity for up to date political leaders to look past ethnic and cultural variations and promote a shared nationwide identification.

He urged members of the discussion board and different stakeholders to take duty for constructing unity throughout the nation, stressing that Nigeria’s variety must be harnessed for nationwide improvement slightly than allowed to deepen divisions.

“But it is our responsibility to come together and convert our diversity into an asset, not liability,” Ganduje stated.