Worried by the rising tension in the country over insecurity and other challenges, the Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, has warned against inviting another civil war.
Onuoha, who is also the President, Vision Africa International, gave the warning on Sunday in Abuja.
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He said the security challenges, comments, actions of individuals in the country, warrant all Nigerians irrespective of their political, religious and ethnic divide to be careful in drawing lines of argument.
“Nigeria is yet to recover from the effects of the Civil War even after 51 years and should not risk another one. I am worried about utterances of individuals in the country including the high and mighty, regretting that such unguarded utterances have potential for tearing the country apart within a twinkle of an eye if the targets react in like manner,” Onuoha said.
He said that war-ravaged countries of the world have never told good stories regarding its effects on their economy and other aspects of life.
While recounting his childhood experiences during the nation’s civil war, Onuoha said that such despicable experiences have made him dislike anything that looks like potential war in the country as such will only destabilize the country and relegate all that past and present leaders have fought so hard to keep to the background.
The Methodist Bishop urged those fuelling violence across the country to shun their actions and toe the path of peace.
He said that the absence of peace is inimical to the development of any nation, warning that any act of violence apart from the ones Nigeria has witnessed including banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram insurgents will further throw the country in chaos.
He urged the Federal Government to fish out criminal elements destroying farmlands, raping women, kidnapping people in different parts of the country, adding that these vices do not in any way represent the traditional cattle farmers known by Nigerians.
He also expressed pain at the level of quit notices given to groups/individuals in some parts of the country, stressing that such notices if not properly handled, is capable of causing war between groups.
He therefore urged government at all levels to intervene and mediate in such situations to forestall a breach of peace in the zones and Nigeria at large.
