The 40th Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi, has urged the Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo to use activities that interest the youths across the country to reach out to them with his message of unity and peaceful co-existence.
According to her, activities in education, sports and entertainment have held Nigerians together in the past irrespective of family background, ethnicity, social status and religion.
She maintained that a renewed federal government attention to these areas could step down the spate of hate speeches and distrust observed among youth groups in various regions of the country in recent weeks.
Obiadi stated this is a statement she personally signed and issued to newsmen on Monday.
While commending Prof. Osinbajo for his engagement with leaders of thought drawn from several parts of the country over the quit notice given to Igbos by Northern youths, the beauty queen stated that it was high time the Presidency reached out directly to the youths for ‘heart-to-heart’ meetings and discussions.
She added that such parleys, made possible through events that cause youths to look beyond parochial interests, would create in the minds of the youths a sense of belonging in the Nigerian state.
She further called on leaders at all levels to demonstrate a strong commitment to the creation of a just and humane social order across the six geo-political zones of the country and ensure that the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians are respected and security of lives and properties guaranteed.
The statement reads in part: “ the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo deserves commendation for the steps he has so far taken to calm the frayed nerves occasioned by the recent spate of secessionist agitations and counter-agitations in recent weeks.
“But I call on leaders at all levels to demonstrate a strong commitment towards the creation of a just and humane social order across the six geo-political zones in the country. This, I believe, will give every citizen a sense of belonging; ensure that fundamental human rights of all Nigerians are respected and guarantee security of lives and property.
“It is good to engage with leaders of thought on the issue of Nigeria’s unity. However, a critical look at the recent spate of hate and divisive speeches indicate that the threat to the successful integration of the country comes from the youths.
“Let me use this opportunity to urge the Acting President to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to engage the youths on peace-building through activities that interest them.
“The youths in Nigeria have shown times without number that in education, sports and entertainment they can put behind parochial interests and ethnic sentiments and relate freely with one another irrespective of socio-cultural backgrounds.
“The federal government can look to these areas to pool the youths across the country together and reach-out to them with the message of unity and peaceful co-existence. Such heart-to-heart meetings could go a long way in addressing the unity challenge that has robbed attention from the economic hardship Nigerians are presently reeling under.
“The youths should be encouraged to use their fertile minds and creative talents to become solvers of problems that affect the nation. They could be encouraged to sing unity songs, shoot movies that centre on national integration, write storybooks that preach love for one another, and all engage in inter-regional cultural tourism and fairs. These activities apart from building bridges could also stem the tide of unemployment in the country.”
