Shettima , Barau , CDS , others call for National Rebirth

The Vice President of Nigeria , Senator Kashim Shettima, Deputy President of the Senate , Senator Barau Jibrin , Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State , have called for national rebirth among Nigerians .

Concerted calls for national rebirth among Nigerians by the eminent Nigerians were made in Abuja on Wednesday at one day National Peace Summit organised by the Nigeria Peace Summit Group .

At the event held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel , the Vice President who was represented by Aliyu Bunu Sheriff , the Special Assistant to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria on Export Expansion , office of the Vice President, said Nigeria needs national rebirth from her citizens for the required patriotism for national growth and development .

” Peace is Sine qua non for sustainable growth and development in any society , community or country , meaning that for attainment of peace in Nigeria, there must be a national rebirth of renewed patriotism for our country , love for our neighbours and productivity for the growth and productivity for development of Nigeria”, he said .

Making similar call at the summit , the Deputy President of the Senate , Barau Jibrin , who was represented by his Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring , Professor Muhammad Fagge , said peaceful co – existence among Nigerians across the country , would help to address the challenges of insecurity , communal skirmishes and retarded growth generally .

According to him , ” best community policing system is derivable from peaceful co – existence among inhabitants of a community and from which the best community policing system can be put in place”.

The Governor of Sokoto State , Ahmad Aliyu , in his presentation at the summit , lamented that the problem of Nigeria is lack of patriotism from Nigerians .

The governor who was represented by his deputy , Alhaji Idris Gobir posited that patriotism is the major problem of Nigeria.

” There is the need for national rebirth in Nigeria , particularly on the issue of patriotism , which most Nigerians lack , as far the Nigerian project is concerned and without which , genuine and sustainable development can be achieved “, he said

Representative of the Chief of Defence Staff , Rear Admiral O.A Bankole who is the Chief of Defence , Civil Military Relation , made similar submission by declaring that Nation building is a collective effort , largely being treated as efforts of government in power in Nigeria .

He warned that Nigeria may continue to fight insurgency for the next 60 years , if required collective efforts in that direction are not made by the government and the governed .

Earlier in his opening address, the convener of the summit , Bishop Timothy Terfa Cheren said the overriding objective of the peace summit , is to accelerate efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace among different groups and regions in Nigeria .