The immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said that Nigeria is as indivisible as a Catholic marriage.
Speaking at the annual lecture of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Abuja, yesterday, he called for more concerted efforts to sustain the nation’s democracy.
Jega who spoke on the theme: “Broadcasting, Democratisation and the Challenge of the New Nigeria,” said the unity of Nigeria was as sacrosanct as a Catholic marriage and emphasised the need for all hands to be on deck to reposition the country in the comity of nations as well as address the myriad of challenges facing it.
“We should, as I often say, see the Nigeria federation as akin to a Catholic marriage not necessarily a perfect union, but till death do us part and strive to do anything humanly possible to find accommodation and live peacefully, and to prevent its annulment.
“It no doubt requires incurable optimism, to sustain this motivation and to redirect Nigeria into becoming a stable, united and prosperous nation that we will be proud to have our children and grandchildren live in and explore its potentials. Thus, we have to continue to make concerted efforts to address the persistent challenges. All hands need to be on deck for this. We must not be hostages to our reckless and unwholesome past; we must look to the future with determination and optimism,” the former INEC chairman said.
He observed Nigeria’s major challenge remains accelerating democratisation, institutionalising good, democratic governance and consolidating democratic development.
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