SGF Urges Youth
To Work Towards Strengthening Nation’s Unity
…As Arewa Youths Honours Ukura
By: Ben Ukeji
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has appealed to the Youths in the Country to shun the politics of religion, ethnicity and divisiveness, and work fervently towards strengthening the Nation’s unity.
Akume, who said it is not an error for God making us Nigerians, neither do anyone have the luxury of deciding to be born in a particular ethnic group, urged the youth to extend hands of friendship across the nation for a peaceful co-existence and overall development of the country.
The SGF made this appeal, while speaking during the presentation of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna Platinum award of Excellence “as an Icon of hope” on Architect Ukura Patrick, by the Arewa Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (AYAGG), in Abuja, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to building bridges that would engender peace, growth and development of the nation.
Akume, who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Chris Tarkaa, also said President Tinubu is committed to ending insecurity bedeviling parts ofthe country.
His words: “The politics of divisiveness, whether based on religion, or ethnic sentiments will not lead us anywhere. Today, as we start the journey forward under this new administration, our President made promises to Nigerians and he put the promises under the Renewed Hope Agenda. To this end, government has embarked on multiple programmes, among which is to tackle the issue of security head-on. The government will not shy away from the immediate and remote causes of the security challenges in the country.”
“One of the greatest issues that has contributed to insecurity in Nigeria is the conflict between herdsmen and farmers which can primarily be attributed to Climate Change. You know that desert is encroaching more and more, and to this end, the Federal Government has put up a programme to control the Great Green Wall, being a programme that will provide employment for a lot of people,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Dennis Ukume, stressed the importance of unity among the various ethnic groups in the country; insisting that Nigeria is better off as an indivisible nation.
He stated that the country has a lot of potentials thatif well tapped, could end hunger and poverty across the land.
Ukume, therefore, called on Tinubu led Administration to tackle the famers and herder’scrises to guarantee food security in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Architect Ukura, commendedAYAGG for finding him worthy of such a prestigious award named after the famous Premier of the Northern region and promised to always avail himself to the service of humanity.
Ukura, a Harvard trained environmentalist, whounveiled the proposal, capable of solving the intractable challenge of famers / herders clash in Nigeria, said he was inspired to find a solution,because he is personally affected by the farmers/herders crisis as two of his primary school class mates were killed in the conflict.
He said, “As an environmentalist, I thought it wise to try to find a solution, because I believe that every problem on earth has a solution. I swung into action, I did a study, travelled around the World to understudy how herding business is done in other countries.”
