This week continues the series on insecurity in Nigeria
May I remind you that I took and subscribed to the oath of office during which I pledged that to the best of my ability I would preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. In view of this, any effort to steer the path of constitutionality is not to my mind beyond the bounds of my responsibility. I sincerely hope that I have erased any shred of doubt in your mind about my genuine desire to bring about peace and harmony in our country as being the only motive behind this all-important meeting with you and all other political party leaders who, along with the chief executives of the twenty governments in the federation, share the same aspiration to evolve truly democratic government in Nigeria. It remains for me to say that I very much look forward to meeting you on Tuesday morning for frank and cordial discussions which will demonstrate to your conviction my genuine intention in the matter. Be reassured that I do not seek to serve the personal interest of any particular person or community lesser than Nigeria.
Once more, I like to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.” On January 8, the five political parties in the country met. The President informed the meeting that he had received reports from various parts of the country about political or politically motivated acts of victimization and injustice suffered by members of opposing parties in all the states. The meeting reviewed the report exhaustively and came to the conclusion that there was no real cause for anxiety about the security of the country. It agreed that reports of this nature should be made available from time to time to the party leaders and the governors by the President.
Earlier in his address, the President had said that he was not happy that barely three months after the inception of the presidential system of government, there were people infringing on the rights of political opponents in all parts of the country. Alhaji Shehu Shagari stressed that everyone must recognize that the solidity of the nation transcends political partisanship. The meeting was attended by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the Great Nigeria People’s Party, GNPP; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the Nigerian People’s Party, NPP; Mallam Aminu Kano of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP; and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. Each party leader was accompanied by five advisers.
All the five political parties in the country agreed on the need for co-operation amongst themselves and on creating a forum for the exchange of views on matters of public importance. A communique issued at the end of the meeting between President Shehu Shagari and the leaders of the five political parties in Lagos expressed the agreement of all sides to the continuation of this dialogue. It said an all-party summit meeting comprising the President, Vice-President and leaders of the five parties would be held as and when necessary. The party delegations would also include all the state governors and one other delegate.
The communique said the meeting agreed that public attention should be drawn to the existence of the public complaint commission of all the states of the federation, so that all aggrieved persons could make effective use of them. It emphasized that all public media should give full and fair coverage to all political parties and the entire mass media should be temperate and exercise discretion in their comment on public issues and national institutions. The meeting also expressed its full adherence to the Constitution of the country and noted with pleasure the determination of the President and Government to uphold the Constitution.
I look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power in this country. If we want peace in Nigeria, we must search for peace. Establishing a lasting peace should be the main concern of our leaders at this hour.
We must devise a system in which peace is more rewarding than war. Nigeria is a beautiful country and all of us must play our part in bringing about the deserved peace in our fatherland. I think we need each other.
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