“Young Nigerian people’ve become converts to radicalisation preached by demagogues”

Abdulsalami Abubakar has accused politicians who have failed to deliver their mandate to their people as being behind the call for the disintegration of the country.

There has been rising call for the break-up of the country fuelled by Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People Of Biafra while the quit notice issued to Igbos by Arewa youths has also strained relationship between ethnic groups in the country.

According to report, the National Peace committee headed by the former head of state in a statement condemned the spate of rising hate speech saying it was not in the best interest of the country. The committee also noted that this trend was a result of bad governance in the country. “

In this regard, the National Peace Committee acknowledges that the drums of rising division also reflect the perceptions by our citizens that there is poor governance in Nigeria today. “Politicians who have failed in delivering on the mandate of the electorate for better livelihoods and neighbourhoods have, instead, found common cause with advocates of division and hate.

“In many parts of the country, young people who have been left without means of livelihood or hope in their future have become converts to radicalisation preached by demagogues in various guises including ethnicity and religion.”

Meanwhile, A former governor of Abia, Dr Orji Kalu, said that Nigeria has 'gone past quit notice' as the various ethnic groups that make up the country have lived harmoniously for many years. Kalu, who was referring to the quit notice issued to Igbo people to leave northern Nigeria by Arewa youths, said everything possible should be done to strengthen the unity of the country.

Kalu said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday July 10 that Nigeria had come to stay but suggested that the country should go back to regionalism. The All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain said no strong politician would promote ethnicity and urged all hands to be on the deck to strengthen Nigeria’s unity.