CPC: Nigeria needs indigenous solutions to tackle insecurity

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Following the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States of America, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa (retd) has said that Nigeria needs indigenous solutions to tackle insecurity.

Musa, who stated this on the sideline of the Unity Schools’ Old Students’ Association resident in Abuja’s (USOSA in Abuja) Cultural Night and Unity Ball event on Sunday, said Nigerians must embrace unity regardless of cultural differences.

“This is a political question. I really do not want to comment on that. But, the idea is that Nigeria must look inwards. Nobody is coming to save us other than ourselves. We must do it by ourselves and we can do it.

“What we are seeing today is how Nigerians can live together. Different cultures make up Nigeria. That is why unity is very important.

“As Nigerians, you can see how colourful we look, despite our different cultures, traditions and religions, we are all here today.

“That is what Nigeria should be and that is what we want to appeal that we should live together and love our country. Nobody else will do it for us apart from us.”

USOSA President, Michael Magaji, said USOSA would continue to promote peace and unity.

“More than 50 to 60 years after the unity schools were established, the idea behind the schools was to promote nation building and create enabling platforms to bring young Nigerians from all over the country to express themselves, working towards nation building, understanding, managing our diversity and shaping future leaders.”

USOSA Team Lead and Class of 1991, Nannana Anyim Ude, said the event was organised to celebrate themselves and chart a common front on how citizens can unite the country.

“USOSA brings together all the alumni associations of the unity schools. The essence is not just to promote education built on the foundation of national unity, but for those in the cities to be able to create a community of action that will strengthen the bond of our unity,” he said.

According to him, “Social media is trying to tear us apart. The hi-tech companies are pushing in algorithms that young people are using to spew hatred. Nigeria invested in us, to become apostles of our unity, to become custodians of our national heritage and to become caretakers of our national commons.

“Unless we are able to do that, that investment has failed. This is why beyond the dance, we are here to remind ourselves that after all these, we still have work to do.

“When we go back to our local networks, we should know that our main responsibility is to ensure that Nigeria’s greatness is unshaken and unshakable and our unity is impregnable.

“Like we say in USOSA, we are stronger together. The more we are bonded together the better the country will be.”