Lack of cohesion, integration constitutes major threat to peace

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has described the lack of cohesion and integration as the major threat to peace and security in the country.
Fintiri made the observation at a one-day citizens summit on integration, peace and security organised by Adamawa Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held on Thursday in Yola.
He noted that lack of positive unity among the citizens equally undermined the capacity for the sustainable development of the nation.
He said that the importance of the summit could not be overstated.
He said that for the post-insecurity development agenda to be realistic in Adamawa, it must be backed by a robust security strategy framework with the strong backing of organisations such as the NIPR.
He said that the present Adamawa was no longer merely a destination for religious, herder and farmers crises, but a state involved in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges in Nigeria.
“Lack of cohesion and integration constitutes a major threat to peace and security which undermines the capacity for sustained development
“Our government stands ready to continue to engage the best practice in tackling insecurity and marginalisation, which is responsible for most cases of communal conflicts in formulating a development agenda that will guarantee peace, security and stability.
“We will spare no effort in addressing this menace. Therefore, we are confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law,” Fintiri said.
According to the governor, leaders in the state have obligations to the present generation and more outstanding obligations to generations yet unborn, who should one day inherit the state of sufficiency, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they reside.
He said that people looked up to them as leaders to provide hope amid crises, to provide guidance through complex socio-political divisions and to ensure that they lived in a better world.
“We must strive to eradicate lack of cohesion, insecurity, peace and human misery and dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous state for all,” he said.
In his remarks, Usman Dadah, State Chairman of NIPR said that the aim of the summit was to foster cohesion, promote understanding and build strong relationship between people of the state in line with the core objective values of public relations practice.
“The attention of NIPR in the state has been drawn to a misguided report that practicing journalists cannot register as members of NIPR.
“This is counterproductive. The two professions, journalism and public relations cannot be easily separated as they are all products of mass communication,” Dadah said.