Emmanuel seeks creation of equal opportunities in Nigeria

Ini Friday

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has called for the creation of equal opportunities in Nigeria and frowned at agitations for division.

Speaking on Friday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Uyo, Emmanuel called on Nigerians to stop agitating for things that promote divisions in the country and embrace oneness.

He said agitations and conflicts were responsible for the loss of many gallant men of the armed forces, who had to give up their lives to ensure Nigeria remains one nation.

He urged leaders to emulate the western world, who have been able to remain one despite their diversity and called for equality of aspirations and level playing field for all, devoid of ethno-religious.

He said: “We should not fan the embers of division in our dear Nation. Let us restrain our impulses in agitating those things that only help to create chasms of alienation and division in our dear country.

“Let us create a nation of equal opportunities, where the building blocks remain our common humanity, where ethno-religious passions are subsumed by the ennobling ideals of tolerance and diversity of ideas, culture and ethos.

“Let us work to create a nation where talents trump geography, where we strive to reward the best and encourage all to dream and strive; a nation where our youths are conditioned by the passion of volunteerism, of applying ideas to create wealth as opposed to a cradle-to-grave entitlement mind-set.

“Let us create a nation where a certain Akpan from Akwa Ibom State can in future aspire to be voted into office in Kaduna State or where an Abubakar from Katsina State can be a Senator representing my Eket Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

“We can begin this conversation today and let the idea sink in the consciousness of our leaders. If the Western World can do knit their diversity in a tapestry of common values and brotherhood given the history of ultra-nationalistic foundations of those societies and today, have turned their societies into a beacon of multiculturalism, we can replicate same here.

“When we guarantee an equality of aspirations and create a level playing field, the resort to the drum beat of ethno-religious conflicts and other agitations which had led to certain conflicts, for which these noble and gallant Nigerians gave their lives to neuter, will certainly be replaced by the sweet symphonies of love, brotherhood and oneness,” he stated.

According to Emmanuel. he has added value to the armed forces by improving on the living conditions of soldiers at the Ibagwa Barracks, in Abak Local Government Area.

Emmanuel noted that his interventions would include the remodelling and renovation of blocks of flats for the officers and men of the Battalion, and provision of water in the barracks.

The governor said, so far, a total of 168 blocks of flats have been remodelled, adding that plans are underway to also replicate the gesture across other security agencies.