Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) has expressed deep sadness over the activities of Boko Haram, herdsmen, IPOB and others. He described their activities including the killings of innocent citizens as man’s inhumanity to man which makes his heart bleed.
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General Gowon spoke when he paid courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State at the Government House Owerri, on Saturday, April 28, 2018.
He said Nigeria needs peace so that all the people can live and work together in the interest of one another and in the overall interest of the Country.
According to the former Head of State, with prayers God could touch the hearts of all those involved in all these killings like he touched the biblical Saul and he changed to become instrument of transformation instead of destruction, adding that no situation is too difficult for God to change for better.
His words, “After the Civil War from this town Owerri, I visited Nsukka, Enugu, Abakeliki, Umuahia, and Onitsha. We were impressed with the way the children turned out to welcome us. They were saying, you are our Parents, our leaders, please do not allow any Nigerian Child to suffer what we suffered”.
For him, “God can touch one’s heart and Change the person into becoming a vessel of Peace. My prayer for every Nigerian man is to live in harmony. We would wish, every man and woman, and religious leaders to rally round and assist in any way possible. Every one of us has a role to play not only the leaders. That is why we seek for God’s intervention”.
He noted “Without peace we cannot go further. Let us continue to pray and do whatever we can to achieve the peace we all desire. Your role and our collective role is important”.
He Continued, “We are in Imo for the Nigeria Prayer rally. A prayer rally we have been doing throughout the geo-Political zones or States. This time around it is for the South-East Zone to host the prayer rally and Imo is hosting us. Your Excellency, we are grateful for the arrangements and support. We are impressed with your zeal and passion for Christ, suing for peace which is what the Country needs now”.
Governor Okorocha in his speech, advised Nigerians to see the activities of groups like Boko Haram and others as national problems or Challenges that require all hands to be on deck for solution and should not be Politicized for any reason, adding that those who have lost their lives in all these madness are people of all ethnic groups, religions and perhaps political groups.
He said Nigerians irrespective of their religious and Political linings should come up with ideas on how best to come out from these challenges and should stop talking in a manner that tends to aggravate the problem