Use ethnicity, religion to promote peace, not division, group urges Nigerians

The Vice President, Ambassadors of Voice of Change Initiative Nigeria (AVCIN), Andy Chukwu has implored Nigerians to use ethnicity or religion to promote peace and unity in their domain rather than allowing ethnicity and religion to be tools for division.

Speaking at the public presentation of a documentary with the theme, National Peace and Unity, Chukwu said: “It is common knowledge that tribe, ethnicity, and religion have divided us more than they should have united us. Oftentimes, the songs of war, violence, and separation are so deafening that one wonders if Nigeria will ever remain one united nation. There is fear too that Nigerians hardly co-exist or co-habit peacefully.”

He stated that the group undertook the national peace project to show peaceful co-existence among Nigerians across the cities and towns in the nation. He also noted that though there may be pockets of problems as typical of humans, the issues are usually exaggerated especially on social media.

According to him, the documentary aims to dispel the negative narratives about Nigeria that it is a violent nation.

In the documentary, six cities in each of the six geopolitical zones were visited with religious, traditional leaders and Nigerians from different parts of the country domiciled in the city speaking on how they have lived peacefully with their neighbours.

Chukwu said it was not the first time AVCIN would be engaging in an activity aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence, as the foundation in 2017 went to Gombe to talk to students on the importance of peaceful co-existence. It also held peace concerts in Jos, Plateau State, and Niger State.