By Hafsat Abdullahi
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated for peaceful coexistence and restraint among Nigerians irrespective of tribe and creed in the on-going crisis caused by the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for secession of southeast from Nigeria.
In a message yesterday, Jonathan said: “Recent developments in the country calls for appeal to all men of good will to use whatever influence they have to push for peaceful coexistence and restraint on all sides.”
He suggested that it was perhaps time for the Council of State to intervene and offer its wise counsel.
“Irrespective of whatever provocation, Nigerians must never turn on each other.
“Even in the face of difficult circumstances, we must have faith that God in His infinite wisdom will guide us to finding a way out that is fair and just to all concerned.
“In as much as there may be a need to enforce order, there is a greater need to reinforce our humanity and treat Nigerian citizens humanely whether they be from the North or South.
“Nothing justifies the desecration and destruction of religious places of worship or a police station. But even more so, nothing justifies the endangering of human life.”
He advised that Nigerians should exchange ideas instead of exchanging insults and threats.
“We must be resolute as a people even as we know that it is impossible to deny the brotherhood of all Nigerians after over a century of a shared commonwealth.”
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