Nation building responsibility of citizens, Nweke, others insist

Prominent Nigerians, including former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke (Jnr), ex-presidential candidate, Prof. Remi Sonaiya and Executive Director, FixPolitics, Anthony Ubani, have maintained that nation building is responsibility of citizens and not entirely for those in leadership positions.

In a statement, they cautioned against dividing the people along tribal and religious lines.

The citizenry were also advised to jointly demand security, well-being and good governance as dividends of democracy.

The experts said: “Our collective greatness is the sum total of our individual attainments. What Nigeria demands of us at this time as leaders and as followers is shared responsibility in charting the course for a peaceful and prosperous future for our country.

“To secure life, property, communities and our votes, as well as social justice and a shared prosperity. We must stand for each other, the government and the governed alike and uphold the enduring vision of a nation that is, by destiny, the hope and banner for black people the world over.”

According to them, the constitutional duty of government to secure life and rights is inviolable, adding: “This is the fundamental social contract between the government and the people, and it must not be neglected.”

Ubani stressed that it was time to reinvent social capital and restore citizens’ trust by exhibiting respect, restraint and equity.

He continued: “These values underpin trust and the current reality of trust deficit can only be reversed by a change in the language, tone and content of the communications between public leaders and the governed, and the actions that proceed therefrom. Avoid shrinking the public space. Respect the voices of citizens and their right to an opinion and also encourage healthy public debate.”

According to him, “citizens should neither support nor enable criminal elements to attack security agents and infrastructure i to avoid a complete breakdown of law and order and a descent to anarchy.

“Every citizen must also verify every message posted and shared on social media to prevent the menace of fake news,” the statement added.