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...sues for Restraint Over Riots

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
May 15, 2004
Posted to the web May 17, 2004

By Olasunkanmi Akoni And Arisekola Adekanbi

IN ORDER to avoid a spill-over of the current violence rocking Plateau and Kano
States, Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State has tasked all traditional rulers,
religious and community leaders on the need to maintain the current peace and
harmony in the state, saying the crisis poses an omnious danger to democracy,
political stability and survival of Nigeria.
Governor Tinubu in his reaction to the current violence rocking some states,
expressed worries on the way and manner the crisis has been managed so far,
saying it has the capacity to generate a vicious circle of reprisal thereby
undermining the security of the entire nation. He added: "Furthermore, these
incessant crises create a perpetual climate of fear and insecurity weakening
the faith of the citizen in the Nigerian state. Again, they send negative
signals about Nigeria to the international community thereby preventing an
appreciable inflow of the foreign investment, which is vital to building a
solid economic base for democratic sustainability.
"This is why all hands must be on deck to check these incessant manifestations
of religious intolerance and violence. Political and traditional leaders must
intensify efforts to educate our people on the value existence across ethnic
and religious divides.
"Our people must be made to understand that the only condition for our
continued existence is the willingness to co-exist peacefully. It is clearly
impossible for anyone to trade, work or even worship God meaningfully in an
atmosphere made insecure by violence and bloodshed".
"Beyond doing everything to quickly halt the current violence and restoring
normalcy in the affected states, it is important to take necessary steps to
prevent any future reoccurrence anywhere in the country.
In this respect, our intelligence agencies must be better empowered to gather
information efficiently to enable the authorities nip any religious or other
forms of crises in the bud before lives are lost.
"Above all, we cannot continue to shy away from the imperative of a National
Conference that will enable the diverse Peoples of Nigeria to redefine the
basis of their continued co-habitation. That will be an opportunity to address
fundamentally the root causes of the recurrent religious and communal violence
that threatens the country's existence".
While expressing the heartfelt condolence of the government and people of Lagos
State to those who lost their loved ones in the violence, however enjoined the
people of Lagos state to be very vigilant "at this critical period. Knowing
that this is a mini Nigeria with virtually every ethnic and religious group
represented in Lagos, it is not impossible for anti democratic elements to try
to exploit the situation in Kano and Plateau states to instigate violence in
the state
" We must therefore, be on our guard., we must not allow anyone to disrupt the
peace and harmony we currently enjoy in Lagos state. I enjoin all traditional
rulers, religious leaders and community leaders in the state to please ensure
that their people keep the peace. Anyone trying to incite violence through
false rumors should be promptly reported to the police.
" Our people should be assured that no one would be allowed to derail the
peace, progress and prosperity of Lagos state" Tinubu enjoined.

   

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