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50 yrs after, Nigerians repeating mistakes of civil war -Presidency

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SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
The Presidency on Wednesday said aggressive regionalism was the major cause of the infraticidal war that ravaged the country for three years, 1967-1970.

It, however, regretted that some Nigerians were yet to learn the lesions of that bitter war that claimed lives on both sides, as they were repeating the mistakes that led to the strife.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency noted that the Nigerian civil war served as a potent warning on the dangers of aggressive regionalism, ethnic baiting and political corruption.
Titled STATEMENT ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR’S CESSATION, it read:
“As the nation commentates 50 years of the end of the nation’s tragic civil war today, we remember the victims of the conflict and honour those on both sides that lost their lives. Their tragedy shall be neither forgotten nor repeated.
“The war serves as a potent warning on the dangers of aggressive regionalism, ethnic baiting and political corruption. In it, we must forge common memory that can serve as a bridge to a future free from the ravages of sectarianism.
“We remember the past to draw its lessons; on how we move forward together and live in peace. Unfortunately, there are some who fail to recognise them and instead repeat its mistakes, preaching inflammatory rhetoric meant only to divide. We call on all leaders and parties to moderate their language.
“There were no victors in this war. Yet in rejecting division and embracing unity, we ensure those lives lost were not in vain.
“Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Recall that states in the Southwest had on Thursday last week established a regional security outfit named Operation Montekun allegedly to fight rising insecurity in the region, but the Federal Government has declared same illegal and unconstitutional.
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