RIVERS CRISIS: CONCERNED NIGERIAN YOUTH SPEAK ON THE ONGOING CRISIS IN RIVERS STATE, OTHER STATES (PHOTOS)

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.

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.

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:

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)

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