Buhari’s  election altered ‎negative perception about Nigeria – Gemade

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA- FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and  Senator representing Benue Northeast senatorial zone, Senator Barnabas Gemade‎, said yesterday that the major threat to the nation’s unity, tolerance and peace was  lack of deep understanding and appreciation of one another by Nigerians.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at  the official unveiling of a book, ‘Fragrance of Diversity’, Senator Gemade noted that the election of Muhammadu Buhari as President- elect during the March 28 Election has altered what he termed, negative perception about Nigeria, especially at the global stage.
The former PDP National Chairman , now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC  urged Nigerians to sustain the momentum brought up by the successes recorded in the elections as that would help move the country forward.
‘Fragrance of Diversity’, a book which is written by Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed on Media, demonstrates how some of Nigeria’s cultural traits and diverse names which have often been misapplied as divisive tools can be transformed into positive instruments of unity.
The book also explains meanings of names of Nigerians across ethnic, religious and geographic divides.
“That way, our names can become instruments for bounding and integrating our people irrespective of our ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversities,” the author, Ogbuenyi explained.
Speaking further, Senator Gemade who took Nigerians down memory lane, however recalled how s‎eries of internal crises have threatened to undermine national peace and security, adding, “Since 1960, Nigeria has witnessed many costly internal conflicts. The notable ones include the civil war, Zango/Kataf in Kaduna state, Hausa/Beron in Plateau, Tiv/Jukun in Taraba and Benue, Ebira/Bassa‎ in present day Kogi, Ife/Modakeke in Osun, Ijaw/Itserkeri in Delta, Ezza/Izzi in Ebonyi, Umuleri/Aguleri in Anambra, Ombatse in Nasarawa.
“In recent years, we have seen the more devastating crises of militancy in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram in the North/east and the Fulani herdsmen, many communities recurring clashes in the middle section of the country and others.
“The crises have in some cases snowballed to the extent that not a few people are beginning to be skeptical about the prospects of continuing to exist as one country if we are capable of building and sustaining peace and unity,” Gemade noted.
Senator Gemade also emphasised the need for inter-cultural marriages, provision of Unity Schools for younger generations, understanding languages and bearing names across cultural, political and geographical divides will encourage tolerance, acceptance and proper integration in Nigeria.
Also speaking, representative of the FCT Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Awodu urged  Nigerians to embrace the message of peace, propagated by the author, Mr. Ogbuenyi in his book.
He said, “When Nosike told me about the book, I encouraged him to go ahead. What he has done is the first of its kind in Nigeria and he has captured the whole country. The work is excellent.”
Some of the dignitaries at the event were representatives of state governors senators directors and heads of agencies of FCT administration, among others.