The Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar Audu University, (PAAU) Anyigba Prof. Marietu Ohunene Tenushe has called for the structuring of the educational system to promote values of unity in diversity, oneness, and togetherness in Kogi State.
Prof. Tenushe made the call on Monday in Lokoja at the Nigeria Post Kogi at 33 lecture and awards 2024 with the topic, “unity in diversity, a requisite for peace, progress and prosperity in Kogi State”.
She admitted that Kogi State is one of the most cultural, ethnically and religious diverse State in the Country, adding that, diversity among the people can advance peace, progress and prosperity in the State.
According to her “If not properly managed, the differences among the people can become a source of distrust, hate and disunity, with dire implications for governance and development.
“The watchword and actions of the political leadership should be unity, togetherness and shunning ethnic, religious and divisive tendencies in politics and governance.
“It should prioritise development, avoid politics of exclusion and marginalization, promote equality and inclusion in governance and integrate the well-being of the people in its policies and programmes.
“Kogi State expects and deserves this character of our political leaders to deepen unity among the people. Significantly, improved education and mass Mobilisation of citizens is crucial to Promoting unity in Kogi State.
“The educational system should be structured to promote the values of unity in diversity. oneness, togetherness, and a sense of belonging at the formative age and socialise citizens on the power of unity. Also, Government and civil society should sensitise and
mobilise citizens on peaceful coexistence and the danger of disunity”.
” The creation of the Kogi State helped revive and rekindle the historic and shared relationships among the people. The creation of Kogi State was against the backdrop of unspeakable political and ethnic marginalization, social-ecomic neglect and industrial backwardness the people suffered as part of old Kwara and Benue States.
“The need to enhance adequate political representation boost rapid economic and industrial development underlines the government’s decision to establish Kogi State. So, fostering unity among the diverse people of the State is sacrosanct to achieving peace, progress and prosperity.
“Kogi State has experienced considerable social, economic, political, educational, cultura! security and industrial progress compared to its pre-creation experience.
” The concerted efforts of the political leadership (military and civilian) have produced improved road networks, healthcare facilities, and education, employment and business opportunities. It is worth noting that the government still has substantial work to do moving the State to an enviable development height.
“However, Kogi State has increasingly been defined by politically orchestrated ethnic rivalry and bickering, leading to a decline in social and mutual trust and divisions among the people.
“Kogi State can only fully maximise the immense social, industrial, economic, and development benefits and rewards derived from its human mineral amd natural resource endowment when there is unity among the people.
“Significantly, the shared desire and dream of peace, progress and prosperity among the people, which crystallised in the creation of the Kogi State, is only achievable when the people are Willing to work together irrespective of their differences.
“The imperatives for unity in Kogi State involve ensuring and achieving equal opportunities for political inclusion, participation and representation of all people of Kogi State. It entails fair and equal access of the people to economic development, social services and public infrastructure and an enabling environment for industrial, business and employment opportunities.
“It involves denying political demagogues the opportunity to shape and contaminate the political milieu with hate, bigotry and division, given the attendant implications on the security of lives and property. So, overcoming the challenges to unity is imperative in
itself.
On the challenges of unity in diversity in Kogi State, Prof. Tenuche, noted that “the diversity in Kogi State should ordinarily be a blessing and a source of pride, given the inherent immense opportunities, potentialities and benefits. However, the diversity in Kogi State, as stated earlier, has often been exploited to create division and mutual mistrust among the people. This makes unity a necessity in the State.
“The challenges to unity among the diverse people of Kogi State cannot be divorced: from the history and realities of the Nigerian State. First, the nature of politics is characterised by the winner-takes-all-all syndrome. This development often leads to mobilising identity and
“Primordial cleavages during political and electoral competitions and exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to access state power and further group dominance, not minding the backlash effects on unity among the people.
“The zero-sum nature of politics encourages political corruption and misuse of state power to promote individual, community, ethnic and religious interests. So. politicians in power wrongly perceive access to power and government resources as an opportunity to steal for
themselves and ethnic groups.
“The privatisation and ethnicisation of politics and governance portends danger to unity among the people. This trend encourages unhealthy political rivalry that degenerates into mutual distrust, suspicion, and hate among the people.
“The nature of politics encourages denying and marginalising people equal access to socio-economic and political values and decision-making positions. This trend undermines and threatens the foundation of unity. The unequal distribution of public resources and infrastructures among the people breeds resentment, hate and anger from the perceived victims and underlines a decline in social trust.
“The nature of politics entrenches and elevates the culture and cycle of excluding people from access to socio-economic goods and political power. This dimension of politics has dire implications for the security of the Kogi State. In the words of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello: Marginalisation and discrimination place victims at a fundamental disadvantage because they breed hopelessness.
” People who discover that there is a glass ceiling over their head due to the circumstances Of their birth, like place of origin, language and religion, tend not to put in their best effort. It is a sledgehammer which smashes their ability to aspire without limits. Such people also become angry with society, making them easy recruits for violent or even extremist ideologies, as we See in sections of our country today.
Prof. Tenushe called on the Government to invest in critical sectors of the economy, such as iron and steel and petrochemicals.
“Kogi State is an integral part of Nigeria and is affected by the political and economic policies of the national government.
” The appointment of Prince Shaibu Audu Abubakar as Honourable Minister of Steel Development is a welcome development. Kogi State will be counting on him to work assiduously to turn around the fortunes of the Ajaokuta Steef Company.
“It is on record that as Minister of Steel Development, Kogi State-born, Ali Mammans Makele worked hard, with the immense support of former President Shehu Aliyu Shagari, to develop the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“There is a need for concerted efforts and investment to revive the steel sector in Nigeria. The presence of a vibrant steel and petrochemical sector in Nigeria will stimulate innovation and the integration of science and technology into the entire development process.
” This development is crucial to enhancing skill acquisition and providing employment opportunities in several sectors of the economy for the teeming youth population” she added.
The 2024 Nigeria Post Kogi at 33 lecture and awards has the theme,
“sustaining Kogi’s unbroken unity, prospects and possibilities, this house must not fall”.
