How Nigeria Can Overcome Present Challenges - Waziri
… As FG, Benue Government Sue for peace
SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, (THEWILL) – Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mrs. Farida Waziri has said that there is the need for soul searching among the country's political, religious and community leaders if the nation has to overcome its numerous daunting challenges.
She gave the challenge on Sunday, April 21 while fielding questions from journalists at the premises of Saint Edwards Catholic Church, Uga, where a thanksgiving reception was held in her honour by the Uga Mbakuha community, Ushongo local council area of Benue state.
According to her, " In view of the daunting challenges facing our nation at this moment of our history, we need to sincerely seek God's help but it is obviously not enough for our people including our political, religious and community leaders to just troop to mosques and churches on Fridays and Sundays, we all need to do serious soul searching and that's the point frank and selfless ideas that will bring lasting solutions can come forth."
She added that, "I am saying this because some of the things happening in our communities and country as a whole today are strange to us historically and culturally. We are fast losing our culture of being our brother's keeper instead we seek the fall of the next man. Do we do unto others what we want them to do unto us? We need to retrace our steps as a people and a nation. We surely have to return to God but beyond that let's all search our conscience and there we will find where we missed it at personal, household, community, state and national levels because solutions to our problems will not come from anywhere other than within our dear Nation, Nigeria".
Speaking earlier at the well attended event, Waziri expressed her appreciation to her people for the honour and called for the deepening of the bond between the community, its neighbours and the government.
She said for years she was taken away from her place of birth in her bid to serve her fatherland, Nigeria, adding that the "values learnt during my early formation are what invariably demonstrated in my commitment to work, honesty and hard work in any assignment entrusted to me."
Speaking at the event, Minister of Interior, Abba Moro said Waziri's commitment in her public and private undertakings has made her life an exemplary one worthy of emulation. He said the kind of love shown Waziri by her people is what the country needs among the various ethnic nationalities for peace coexistence. This was also the view of the Catholic Bishop of Gboko diocese, Most Rev. Dr William Avenya and the state governor, Gabriel Suswam who both called for peaceful co-existence among all the communities and ethnic groups in the state. They were represented by the Vicar General and Chief of Staff respectively.
Others at the event include prominent traditional rulers from the state, former Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoaka, Chairman of the community development association, Gen. Gabriel Kpamber (rtd), members of the state executive council and special guests from across the country among others.