Nigerians must not let the activities of Boko Haram sow the seed of doubt
and mistrust among themselves as allowing such will be detrimental to the
peaceful coexistence of various religious and ethnic groups in the
country, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said.
He said now is the time for leaders to close ranks and work for the
stability and progress of the country.
Speaking in Sokoto at the opening of the new Catholic Secretariat, the
Governor said the unity of Nigeria has been threatened by the emergence of
Boko Haram, a tragedy which he said has deepened anxieties across the
country.
According to him, all Nigerians must learn to put the nation and the
survival of the citizenry first before any consideration. “Because if
there’s no nation, there will be no space to practice our faiths,” he
stated.
In his remarks at the occasion, elder statesman and former Defence
Minister, General TY Danjuma, said the fight against Boko Haram is
entering it’s most critical stages and Nigerians must brace up to wither
the new challenge.
He said now that Nigeria is winning back its territories hitherto captured
by Boko Haram, the insurgents have now devised a new strategy of
disappearing into wider civilian population and setting up sleeping cells
who wreck havoc on softer targets.
He said this new strategy has not only bolstered the intelligence
capability of the terrorists, but has made them have superior surveillance
techniques than Nigeria’s security agencies.
Danjuma said one of the biggest threats facing Nigeria today is
inter-religious rivalry and intra-religious conflict, adding that once the
situation is not curbed, the country will continue to suffer from its
consequences.
He said all citizens must stand up against terror and insurgencyý. “When
Boko Haram openly denounced all religionsn Muhammadu Buhari called them
terrorists and urged all Muslims to consider them as such.
“Later, some who chose to remain on the fence realised the threat posed to
all and reluctantly joined in condemning Boko Haram.
“Having sleeping cells among the generality of the population has made
them have intelligence capability that is 100 percent better than that of
our security agenciesý,” he said.
The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, and Edo
State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said religious harmony is the only
panacea to a peaceful country.