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With the growing concern about their future and the future of
other Nigerian youth, as well as their
leaders who are currently being confronted with the fever of crisis riding most
parts of the country, especially with the recent development in Rivers State, a
group known as Concerned Nigerian Youths, CNY, has issued a press statement,
appealing to president Goodluck Jonathan and other gladiators over the ongoing
political tussle in Rivers State and other parts of the country to sheathe
their swords in the interest of peace.
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In the press statement signed by
five of its caucus, Actress Ronnie Dim (National Coordinator), Amb. David James
Egwu (Media and Communication), Dickson Shehu Iroegbu (Executive Secretary),Nick
Nwadino (Programs and Mobilization), Charles Nicholaz (Brand and Strategies),
the group said that national progress is not about the provision of necessary
infrastructures, but about attaining the desired peace in one’s country. “Our motive today is not to make long
speeches or coat our intentions in high-sounding words, neither are we gathered
to take sides nor apportion blames, rather, it is to reveal to the world the
greatest element that will make us a world power in no distant time. It is not
OIL, ELECTRICITY or AGRICULTURE, it is PEACE. The ‘United we stand, divided we
fall” mantra cannot be over emphasized. Hence; we are collectively worried to
intervene. “ The group had avowed.
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The group also appealed to all
political office holders in the country to imbibe the culture of peace in order
to build on the Nigerian dreams. In its
appeal to the President, the group says “We, the Concerned Nigerian Youth
identify with appeal by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for peace to
reign in Nigeria, we believe that Mr. President and all stakeholders can avert
the harsh judgment of history by ensuring the conflicts in the Plateau, Benue,
Kaduna, Nassarawa, Ijaw/Itsekiri, as well as other communal crisis within the
country and currently, the political intolerance and instability in Rivers
State that is escalating by the break of every new dawn is tackled and nipped
in the bud to avoid spreading to other parts of the country”
Read the complete
version of the release below:
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CONCERNED NIGERIAN YOUTHS (CNY)
Press Conference held at the SHERATON HOTELS & TOWERS,
Abuja,
18th JULY, 2013
By CONCERNED NIGERIAN YOUTHS
(Time to Give Peace a Chance)
We are gathered here today because our beloved nation is
bleeding! Recent events revealed a conspiracy against our peaceful co-existence,
stretching our National unity to an elastic overbearing state; where avoidable
happenings orchestrated by lack of love and promotion of greed hinders the
growth we earnestly deserve as a people. We lie to ourselves to say otherwise.
The blood of the innocent has become the manure that fertilizes evil greed of a
select few. How did we really get here? Why did we let our grievances fester to
the point of taking the precious lives of those who only yesterday were our
friends and neighbours? Why did we open the floodgate of hatred and allowed
this demon of anger to pay us a devastating visit?
Obviously, we are pained in our hearts as Nigerian youths,
that the essential national consciousness and patriotism espoused in the hearts
of our founding fathers have been sacrificed on the altar of political
bickering, party infighting ethno-intolerance, and discrimination, insincerity,
overheating the polity for selfish reasons.
We have witnessed with dismay these happenings in our
fatherland and we are worried; the blood of slain innocent Nigerians
incarcerating the fountain of the waters of reconciliation and reconstruction
of Nigeria calls for the youths to re-strategize. Our motive today is not to
make long speeches or coat our intentions in high-sounding words, neither are
we gathered to take sides nor apportion blames, rather, it is to reveal to the
world the greatest element that will make us a world power in no distant time.
It is not OIL, ELECTRICITY or AGRICULTURE, it is PEACE. The ‘United we stand, divided
we fall” mantra cannot be over emphasized. Hence; we are collectively worried
to intervene.
Sections of our country have suddenly become a land sitting
on a keg of gunpowder that is triggered off at the slightest spark. Fear, uncertainty,
and mutual suspicion now reign supreme among Nigerians. Many have attributed
the state of terrorism in our country to ethno-religious intolerance, impunity
and corruption, but for us as youths, it is neither here nor there, it is an
abysmal numerate; for whatever is responsible for this uprising, no matter who
is right or wrong, we wish to sue for lasting peace and tranquility in our
land.
Our nation needs prayers and a concerted effort to keep and
maintain peace. Our leaders must govern with the utmost sense of commitment to
our nation. Irrespective of whatever camp or divide we may have found
ourselves, we the youths have watched some of our leaders desecrate the
mentorship position (either their action or inaction) willingly given to them
by the people of Nigeria, who have been terribly impoverished and insecure. The
people are today subjected to the intolerant theatre of absurdity by our civil
authorities. The mace is a symbol of authority and not a weapon to destroy each
other neither is the purported five impeachment drama a democratic correctness
as we have witnessed in River State. In our view as Concerned Nigerians Youths;
two wrongs don’t make a right.
In that light, we appeal to our father and father of the
nation, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) to as a matter of urgency
intervene in the issues of PEACE in Nigeria irrespective of who must have erred
in the past. Let us put aside our differences and forge ahead as ONE PEOPLE in
peace and unity.
We acknowledge and identify with the Transformation Agenda
of our President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. We the Concerned Nigerian Youths have witnessed the
insecurity and terrorism in the north being tackled head-on, kidnapping and Oil
Pipeline vandals are being stemmed out gradually in the south, this we
applauded and needs to be consolidated upon.
In the past, the south south and south east regions was with
MASSOB, BAKASSI and MILITANCY, today we are trying to contend with insurgency
in the north which His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is on his toes
to put to a permanent stop. We, the Concerned Nigerian Youth identify with
appeal by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for peace to reign in Nigeria,
we believe that Mr. President and all stakeholders can avert the harsh judgment
of history by ensuring the conflicts in the Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Nassarawa,
Ijaw/Itsekiri, as well as other communal crisis within the country and
currently, the political intolerance and instability in Rivers State that is
escalating by the break of every new dawn is tackled and nipped in the bud to
avoid spreading to other parts of the country.
We must all bear in mind that if any state in this great
nation is in crisis, the rest of the country is affected.
Let’s give Peace a
chance for the collective good of all. We, the youth pledge to Nigeria, our
country, and to be loyal and faithful.
We use this opportunity to appeal to the press community,
the civil society, and all well-meaning Nigerians to support the campaign for
PEACE in our country.
Long live the Exceptional Youth of Nigeria,
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed;
RONNIE DIM (National Coordinator):
Amb. DAVID JAMES EGWU (Media and Communication):
DICKSON SHEHU IROEGBU (Executive Secretary):
NICK NWADINO (Programs and Mobilization):
CHARLES NICHOLAZ (Brand and Strategy):
For CONCERNED NIGERIAN YOUTHS (CNY)
BB ONLY: 22296BCE, 25D15266, 2A9675C6, 33152A2A, 330F265E,
FF: @ConcernedNigYts, Email: cnyprojects@gmail.comS
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