The National Orientation Agency has expressed commitment of the federal government to the successful implementation of the pathway to national cohesion, development and unity.
Delta State Director of the agency, Mrs Tracy Ikolomi disclosed this during her media engagement in Asaba.
Mrs. Ikopomi noted that agency recognised the urgent need for a strategy to promote the much talked about national cohesion, especially how all Nigerians can work together and be united as one, and ensure that there is development across the country.
Ilolomi further revealed that NOA had proposed the strategy and implementation of the pathway to national cohesion, unity and development, which according to her, is aimed at addressing specific challenges faced by different zones, and states in the country.
She said, “There is the need for unity. There is also the need for cohesion. And the need for us to come together as a country and as a people to ensure that our country does not disintegrate.
”If we destroy our nation; we don’t have any other country. So, we must not allow this drum for war to have its place in our society”.
She stated further, ”We must engage and empower young people to be agents of positive change and promoters of national unity.
”We must see Nigeria as a united nation where divisions can not make us to have progress but can only lead to reduction of our strength.
”We must also support one another and also support reconciliation efforts in our communities, and help to breed peace by promoting healing and rebuilding.
”We also need to promote trust between ourselves and government institutions to ensure there is cooperation; and promote inter community dialogue, understanding the essence of social cohesion, and reduction of tensions and issues affecting us negatively”.
Mrs Ikolomi who spoke extensively on issues of insecurity with emphasis on herders -farmers conflicts, kidnapping, restiveness of oil producing people of Ndokwa/Ukwuani of Delta North over power outage spanning over 20 years and drug abuse among the youths, men and women, said a lot sensitisation was being done by agency with a view to combating the challenges using common ground approach and other strategies.
Mr Ikolomi solicited the cooperation and support of all critical stakeholders, and all Nigerians to embrace the new campaign which sought to address prevailing security and unity challenges.
She noted that arrangements had been concluded to organise town hall meetings in July at various parts of the state with a view to combating the challenges with inputs from all strata of the society.
Mrs Ikolomi urged all Nigerians not to be deterred by the prevailing challenges facing the country, but to be resolute and have faith in the renewed hope agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu which would transform the economy and other sectors of the country for the benefit of all.
”We should not allow all these negative issues confronting us to override our society. But we should play our part as citizens of this great country to ensure that Nigeria remains great.
”We are resilient people. We should have belief that things will get better by playing our part , and stop the blame game’,’ Ikolomi added
