The National Orientation Agency, NOA Abia State has kick starts the national security campaign with the presentation of the outdoor Nigeria flags donated by Access Bank limited to state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle General Emmanuel Agomuo and Chief Imam in Abia State, Chief Sheik Ali Ukaiwo.
Performing the ceremony at NOA’s office in umuahia, the State Director of NOA, Dr Ngozi Okechukwu said the flag was presented to them as national symbols of peace and unity, based on the understanding derived from the Nigerian constitution chapter 2, 15 (2) that “Accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited “ and chapter 14 (b) which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
Dr Ngozi Okechukwu
According to her, NOA established re-oreintation programme through building a peace platform inline with the agency’s efforts at arousing security consciousness amongst the citizenry in the face of the security threats.
She listed some of their achievements to include sensitizing people to include, continuous media engagement/appearance on radio and television, social media posts of activities in the state using NOA platform, dialogue and engagement session with major stakeholders online, advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
Dr Okechukwu noted that the Nigerian polity is marked with a complex heterogeneous national cutter of over 250 ethnic groups and more than 525 languages. She opined that Nigeria is considered the seventh most populated country globally and the most populated nation in Africa. The NOA director in Abia said Nigerian federalism is dominated by the fear of one region or religion over the other but the federal character principle’ created to manage diversity ironically increased social injustice, inequity, and reduced trust in the Nigerian public sector performance.
However, she stated that the multi-ethnic linguistic, and religious diversity provide fertile ground for potential conflict.
Mrs Okechukwu maintained that it is not surprising therefore that Nigeria has over the decades experienced internal violent conflicts extremism with considerable impact on its development, consolidation of democracy and viability of the state and indeed the corporate existence of the country. She pointed out that the challenge of managing ethno- religious diversity and prolonged militarised approach have left a legacy of unhealthy inter- group relations and a culture of impunity. Going by the fact, Okechukwu observed that pockets of violence in some state of federation still persist, while she also envisaged that the tensions being generated by secessionist agitation, religious and ethnic groups have led to the escalation of violence in many communities.
In their separate speeches, the Abia State CAN chairman, Apostle Emmanuel Agomuo and Chief Imam, Sheik Ali Ukaiwo appreciated NOA for the presentation of the flags, describing it as a symbol of authority and will spur them to embark on more peace sensitization.
Agumuo
Agomuo and Ukaiwo added that the two religious organizations have been on series of meetings to ensure that peace reigns in many parts of the country including the south east and south south.
Ukaiwo
They prayed that the youth will embrace basic education and also acquire skill acquisition to reduce insecurity in the country. The two religious leaders further urged NOA not to relent in their efforts to sensitive the public on matters of utmost important to all.
