…canvass stronger national identity
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has called for deliberate efforts to build a stronger Nigerian identity capable of transcending ethnic, religious and cultural differences.
Hamzat made the call at the 7th National Discourse on “Interrogating Nigeria’s Democracy in the Context of Multiple Diversity,” held at the University of Lagos.
He said Nigeria’s political challenges were partly rooted in the difficulty of reconciling the country’s diverse cultural heritage with its adopted Western democratic system.
The Deputy Governor urged Nigerians to accommodate their differences while promoting a shared national identity. He also stressed the importance of religious tolerance and responsible family values.
Also speaking, the Senator representing Edo West, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, urged Nigerians to reject identity politics and elect leaders based on competence, ideas and values.
Oshiomhole said Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed for development rather than political mobilisation, arguing that the country’s major divide was between the deprived and those who had accumulated wealth.
Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the event, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, called for greater understanding of religious teachings, noting that both Islam and Christianity promote peace, justice and respect.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Liasu Adele Jinadu, said political elites had exploited ethnicity since the colonial era to build patronage networks and weaken state institutions.
He called for a democratic system that prioritises citizenship, transparency and human development over ethnic interests.
The discourse, convened by The Companions, focused on ways Nigeria can strengthen its democracy while managing its complex ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.
Participants emphasised the need for a national identity that allows different groups to retain their distinct identities while promoting peaceful coexistence and a stronger sense of Nigerian citizenship.
