Nigeria @ 61: Robust Dialogue, Not Threats A Catalyst For Peace And Unity – Sir Archibong

By CrossRiverWatch Admin

The Chancellor of the Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong has identified “robust conversations and dialogue” as the panacea to the myriads of agitations and challenges that bedevil Nigeria.

Archibong, a gubernatorial aspirant in Cross River stated this in his message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 61st independence day celebrations where he averred that most of the secessionist agitations were founded on unguarded utterances with no veritable platform for all parties and stakeholders in nation building to converge and discuss extensively the frustrations of Nigerians.

“As our nation marks 61 years of the departure of the colonial masters, there is need for us as a people to pause and reflect on the plethora of challenges that we face,” Archibong, a stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party said in a statement issued on Friday in Calabar, the Cross River capital.

Archibong who averred that, “Nigeria exists because of we, the people,” said “unnecessary threats by individuals, groups and coalitions as well as the innate human trait that no two humans are same have been the bane of efforts to ensure Nigerians enjoy the true dividends of democracy, hence the need for robust conversations and dialogues that will save us from the challenges we all face as a people.”

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He lamented that, at 61, the country is still, “battling secessionist agitations along ethnic lines amidst banditry, insurgency, organized and petty crimes,” which according to him are often heightened by an attitude that, “unless we are hurt individually, it doesn’t bother us.”

“This was not the attitude of forebears who traded and related with each other with respect and dignity before the arrival of the colonial masters and even when they held sway.

“However, Nigerians are strong, resilient and intelligent – attributes that makes many jealous, hence the need to sit at a roundtable and discuss extensively, our nation and how to push it to greater heights. This is the catalyst needed to achieve the country of our dreams” the statement read.

Furthermore, Archibong who quoted American attorney, Patrick Henry, who averred that; “bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains,” posited that despite the challenges, the country will move forward as, “all our scars as a nation are subtle reminders that there is a great journey ahead, and the only way to overcome is to remain together.”

“The coming together of men and women of good consciences with a disposition to exemplary patriotism have become inevitable to birth the breath of fresh air in Nigeria,” he added.

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