Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has declared. He was speaking yesterday at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peters (Anglican Communion), Asaba, as part of activities for the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Uduaghan called for actions which will deepen the peace and unity of the country, stressing the need for Nigerians to shun actions that are capable of dividing the country. Peaceful co-existence, according to the governor, should not be compromised on the altar of selfish ego.

“Terrorism is not a Nigerian affair; it is a worldwide phenomenon, we need to support our security agencies in the fight against terrorism. By the grace of God, this nation will remain one indivisible entity,” he said.

The governor spoke of fears of election violence in the country, disclosing that his administration has mapped preventive measures to curb such violence in the state.

His words: “Next month elections will come. There has been a lot of security concern for the elections; there have been prayers everywhere to prevent violence before, during and after the elections. As a government, we will not sit and watch it occur, we have put in place preventive programmes so that our people will know that nobody need to die in an election.

“We will mobilise our religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups and elders to educate our people to minimise election violence and reduce the work of security agencies.”

Uduaghan called for freedom of candidates to campaign wherever they want during the electioneering period and decried reports of threats to stop some people from campaigning in certain places.

He noted that the armed forces was doing a lot for Nigerians and commended them for their efforts to keep Nigeria as one as well as safe and secured for lives and property.

“We appreciate the work of our security agencies, especially their sacrifices to keep the nation as one,” he said.

Earlier, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Asaba, Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu, in a sermon decried the tendency by some people to Islamise Nigeria at all cost, saying the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect were meant to “conquer the North, then foist their religion on the South.”

He prayed for peace and unity in Nigeria and called for support for the families of the fallen heroes.

•Photo by Henry Unini shows, from left; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, Senator James Manager, PDP State Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor and The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya during the Inter-Denominational thanksgiving service marking the year 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Anglican Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s, Asaba, yesterday.

Update news