The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has promised to run an all-inclusive government to address the scourge of ethnic agitations in the country if elected.
Obi made the pledge on Sunday in Abuja at the 53rd anniversary of the end of the Nigeria/Biafra war.
In a piece entitled “Nation building and ordered society are imperative,” Obi lamented the negative trajectory of the Nigerian nation, urging every citizen of voting age to take advantage of next month’s presidential election to vote for a leader desirous of giving the nation a fresh start.
He said, “I believe that various agitation groups will stop their agitations when they see a patriotic leadership imbued with fairness, equity, justice, and a determination for a very inclusive and progressive society. Every rational human being can change when he sees a good reason to do so. Such incentives require the right approach, effort, and timing.
“I believe that some of those who are agitating are doing so partly due to our failures in creating an inclusive and progressive Nigeria. A working Nigeria with equity, justice, and fairness will also definitely and effectively checkmate such extreme groups as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province.”
The former Anambra State governor also stressed the importance of dialogue in addressing issues of division in the country, noting that if elected, his government would deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to bring about a peaceful society for all Nigerians, regardless of where they live.
“I believe that the best strategy for dealing with these situations manifesting in the guise of unclear nationalism, bigoted patriotism, and religious bigotry is a carrot-and-stick approach. Nation-building and a well-ordered society are now required. There must be a national programme for those who will accept the carrot approach. For those unwilling to yield to the carrot approach, the stick option will be fully justified and applied. We must put an order in our society, and where necessary, justice will be tempered with mercy,” he added.
Although the war came to an end 53 years ago, Obi regretted that not much had been achieved in terms of building an inclusive nation for all.
Obi, further promised that if given the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the nation, he would ensure that the events that brought about the civil war do not happen again.
