Gen. Yakubu Gowon, one of Nigeria’s former Heads of State has made a call to Nigerian Youths to try to better the lot of the country. The elder statesman further advised the youths to desist from any form of action that could threaten the sovereignty and unity of Nigeria.
Gowon made this call during a National Security Seminar organised by the Department of State Service (DSS) titled “Unity in Diversity: Security and National Development”
He said “You are the future of this country…Ensure that you do better than what we have done for you. This is my plea to you”
Gowon advised the agitators calling for restructuring or secession to be mindful of the rights of others. He condemned situations where certain individuals and interest groups hide under the freedom of speech and association guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution to cause threat to the unity and sovereignty of the country.
“My view and call is that all Nigerians should like their country, right or wrong, but yet demand a change for good and better’’
Director-General of DSS, Mr Lawal Daura, while speaking asked that all those focused on pursing activities that could threaten national security to think properly about the impact of their actions. He said the security and law enforcement agencies in the country would not sit idly by while some divisive elements carried out activities that would threaten the lives and properties of other innocent Nigerians.
According to him “We will deploy the full amalgam of the security infrastructure to deal with subsisting and emerging developments capable of endangering lives and properties as well as our corporate existence as a nation.
“Globally, the security agencies form the core of institutions that give backbone to statehood. “Consequently, every activity that represents an existential threat to the nation is a direct challenge to the security agencies which must be responded to. “The security sector views the unity of this nation as a sacred trust and this task we will do our utmost to meet,” he said.