THE NEED FOR BETTER TOGETHER NIGERIA PROJECT I.

There’s  lots of  leaders and organizations that are promoting understanding and cooperation between people of the same ethnic groups like Ijaw Youth Council for the Ijaw people, Ohaneze Ndigbo for the Igbos, Arewa people’s Congress for the Hausas, Yoruba General Assembly for the Yoruba’s and vice-versa. And there are also many places where people of the same religions comes together serious about their beliefs and values or spiritual convictions like churches, mosques, temples and synagogues. Muslim Society of Nigeria &Christian Association of Nigeria ETC.

But there are not good number of organizations and leaders promoting understanding, relationship and cooperation between the people of  those different ethnic and religious background.

Yet religions and ethnic identity is important to almost every Nigerian and ethnic and religious differences has been a source of misunderstanding, discrimination and hatred that led to major conflicts problems (NOTABLE E.G), MAITATSTINE RELIGIOUS DISTURBANCES IN KANO &  MAIDUGURI IN 1980, KAFANCHAN COLLEGE EDUCATION -MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN RIOTS; KADUNA POLYTECHNIC MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN RIOTS 1981 – 1982, SAGAMU HAUSA/YORUBA MASSACRE IN 1999, KADUNA/ENUGU MASSACRE IN 2000 (DUE TO INTRODUCTION OF SHARIA),IDI-ARABA/OKO-OBA KANO KILLINGS IN 2000, 2001 KANO RIOTS. POST ELECTION VIOLENCE 2011 AND BOKO HARAM CAMPAIGN SINCE 2010.

WHAT THIS MEANS?

            

Although roads, bridges and airlines have been built connecting North and South, East and West.WE have not built the bridges of understanding & cooperation that can sustain a multi-religious/ethnic society like ours. Yet the Nigeria constitution encourages the formation of association that cut across ethnic, linguistic, and religious lines. We still linger in a superficial unity and faith characterized by misunderstanding, suspicion and fear of each other, discrimination and hatred BECAUSE despite the regularly mouthed unity and faith, coexistence and tolerance among the peoples of this country, there is a huge ideological gully separating them .That’s why a misunderstanding between a Fulani and a  Yoruba,an Hausa & Igboman  for  example usually led to conflict that involved the whole 2  ethnic group. Culminating in a catalogue of ethnic and religious problems that resulted in the estimated loss of over 4 million lives and unquantifiable socio-economic and psychological damages.

THE QUESTION IS

What have we on ground NOW that would give political stability to Nigeria the 21^st century? How do we ensure that in the new Nigeria – issues of faiths and ethnicism will not be major obstacles to Development and Peace? One of the ways forward -BETTER Together Nigeria Project.

wHAT IS BETER TOGETHER nIGERIA pROJECT?

BETTER TOGETHER PROJECT

      Events through which “we” bring

Young people from different ethic, faith    and social backgrounds together to better  understand each other, build mutually benefiting relationship with each other, develop their leadership abilities and work together towards making Nigeria better together.