By Samuel Aruwan
Kaduna
A former military governor of Kaduna state and pro-democracy activist, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), yesterday spoke on the country’s 54th Independence anniversary, saying the country “will survive the next 1, 000 years and exist forever.”
Umar also said Nigerians must unite against terrorists and do away with religious, ethnic and political bigotry to sustain the country for common good.
He also said Nigerians must be just and sincere in their national life to build a peaceful country and fight corruption to its end without compromising principles and practice of the rule of law.
In an interview with Blueprint in Kaduna, Umar said: “We are glad that we are celebrating 54 years of self government and existing as a federation. And we will survive the next 1000 years and beyond and exist for forever but we must be sincere and work for the best of our country for common good of all Nigerians.
“We are a blessed country and endowed with full natural and human resources but our story is a sad one. We have all it takes to storm the world instead of moving forward we are still grappling with unjustifiable factors. Ahas divided us the maore, Muslims and Christians being manipulated while the country sink. Let us think of the future and save our future now.”
On the terrorism rocking the country, the former military governor who lost his commission for going against annulment of June 12 elections of 1993, said: “Since civil war and our existence, we have never face serious threat to our corporate existence like the Boko Haram crisis. The consequences are just horrible and we are bleeding, and so we must rise up and come out stronger.
“We must love ourselves, we must fight hate, and we must do same on bigotry and extremism. We must fight corruption and demand good leadership, we must respect religions and sensitivities all Nigerians hold and work on things that will unite and bring about development. God is with us and giving us opportunities to rebuild Nigeria.”
