Group proffers peaceful co-existence as solution to carnage

ANON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Afrocultour, says peaceful co-existence among Nigerians remains a crucial tool in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage and ending the killings in the land.

During a press conference yesterday in Abuja to announce the 2018 edition of the Songs of Nigeria Festivals (SONIFES), which holds on the 24 th of this month at the International Conference Centre within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the organisation’s Executive Secretary, Chuks Akamadu, said there was need for Nigerians to embrace cultural diversity in halting the mayhem in parts of the federation.

He regretted that the bloodletting was already having an adverse effect on the national economy, adding that if left unchecked, it could impact negatively on the nation’s relationship with other countries.

Akamandu charged Nigerians to appreciate the country’s cultural diversity by deploying available resources and platforms for national healing. He said; “We have failed to recognise the fact that our diversity in culture, religion and politics is not a limitation, rather it should be our greatest asset as a nation”.

The executive secretary said the festival is geared at sensitising the public on the need for non-state actors, that cut across religious, political, ethnic and cultural divides, to effec- tively complement the efforts of the Federal Government in stabilising the nation.