Speakers at the fourth DAILY ASSET Annual Awards yesterday, proffered fresh solutions to stem the rising spate of insecurity in parts of the country, blaming the un-salutary situation on tribalism and other vices.

The speakers who included the former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador (Prof) Iyorwuese Hagher, the Benue State First Lady, Dr.

Speaking on the theme: “Conflict Management, Peace Building and Development in a Democratic Setting”, Prof. Hagher blamed the colonial masters for imposing leadership position on certain tribes, while the rest were subjected to serve the ruling class.

To get out of the woods, he advocated for people-driven restructuring, overhaul of security structure, establishment of state and local government police as well as strengthening and reinvigoration of state structures to address the many problems facing the country.

“Before 2023, we must embark on people driven restructuring, overhaul security structure because citizens are losing hope. We need to strengthen and reinvigorate state structures.

 “In 2023, we need new politicians. In 2015, we elected a retired General that went into politics but we have a band of criminals in positions.

“We need new political parties because the existing ones are the same. There is no difference between APC and the PDP, and that is why politicians to cross-carpet easily from one to another. We need national political parties that consider Nigeria first”.

He also called on all Nigerians to rise and tackle tribalism, which had eaten deep into the fabrics of the country’s political, economic and social life, saying “tribalism is the major problem of Nigeria”.

Hagher, also a former Minister of Health, said that the only thing keeping the country united was the resilience of the people, who have refused to buy into the campaigns of a few divisive elements.

“I am not here to criticise those in power, I am not here to criticise President Buhari because some of these things exist before his administration. I am guilty and we are all guilty.

“We thought our only problem was corruption and ignored tribalism, and the major problem of this country is tribalism because tribalism encourages corruption.

“The colonial masters laid the foundation for tribalism. The colonialists brought together different tribes that have no relation to form what is Nigeria.

“The colonial masters made the white people superior to the blacks, and that was tribalism. Lord Lugard created the Northern Protectorate, where he was the Governor bigger than the Southern Protectorate and drew a line that Christianity should not cross to the far North.

“Colonialism also enshrined corruption; therefore it is not a surprise that there is corruption in the land.

“Nation building must start with building Nigeria. One thing is resilient, that is the people; and that is why the country is not divided till date. Tribalism and corruption cannot build a nation,” Hagher stated.

The former university lecturer, also said though Nigeria claims to be a republic, what is being practised in the country is different from what is obtained in other climes.

“In 1963, Nigeria became a republic; and in a republic, citizens are kings while leaders are the servants but here in Nigeria, it is the leaders that are kings while the citizens are servants.

“So, it is time for anomy in a dysfunctional democracy. We are running a strange system,” he added.

We Need Peaceful Co-Existence – NTA DG

Similarly, the Director General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, said Nigeria needed peaceful co-existence to survive as an independent nation.

Alhaji Ibn Mohammed, who stated this at the 2020 DAILY ASSET Annual Awards and Lecture in Abuja, said in the past nobody was discriminated in Nigeria on the bases of religion or tribe and urged all Nigerians to unite to reclaim the lost glory.

“We all have a duty to return this country to its former glory,” Ibn Mohammed said.

While commending the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of DAILY ASSET Newspaper for sustaining the awards despite the turbulent economy, the NTA Director General emphasised the need to support and encourage young entrepreneurs like DAILY ASSET Newspaper to grow and help address the unemployment challenges in the country.

He commended the title of the lecture as timely, saying it would provide solutions to the security challenges in the country and enhance the needed peaceful co-existence of the nation.

The NTA DG lamented that at the moment people in different parts of the country live in fear of the unknown, which was not the case in the past.

Also speaking, Wife of Benue State Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Eunice Ortom, who described the award of the First Lady of the Year bestowed on her as an encouragement, pledged to continue to work towards the transformation and improvement of the lives of the less privileged in Benue State.

She also promised to continue to pursue gender equality, girl child education, as well as good health and self-actualisation of Benue youths.

Chairman on the occasion, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, represented by Hon. Bem Mzondu (Benue, PDP) on the Federal House of Representatives, commended the organisers of the Daily Asset Annual Awards and Lecture for the painstaking and elaborate choice of the awardees, who he said all deserve to be honoured and recognised.

He urged Nigerians to shun utterances that could cause crises in the country.