From: Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, has described Nigeria as a total disgrace and laughing stock to the rest of the world.
Danjuma said this on Friday in Nwonyo village in Ibi Local government Area of Taraba State, in his speech as chairman of the annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival.
The elder statesman said that Nigeria is regrettably a war front and theatre of absurdities that leaves a sour taste in the minds of people in every sane society.
He maintained that it is imperative for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country to put its house in order and put a check on the glaring insecurity and other vices that are bedeviling the country.
According to Danjuma, “The festival stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Taraba State that we cherish and celebrate with great pride. It showcases our cultural values and serves as a symbol of our unity.
Let us take a moment to reflect on the significance of the occasion. It is a symbol of the resilience and determination of our people in the face of daunting challenges.
“Let us renew our commitment to promoting peace, harmony and celebrate the bonds that unite us as one family. May this occasion be a reminder of who we are and the strength that lies in our unity.
“We must put our own house in order and have peace in our state and throughout the country if we want this to be truly an international festival. There is no sane foreigner who will come to celebrate with us if we continue to disgrace ourselves as we do.
“As we are today in Nigeria, we are a disgrace to the whole world. The whole country is a war front of our people killing our people. We are a laughing stock to the rest of the whole world. We must put our house in order. We must make our roads safe and stop kidnapping people. We must learn to live together as a country and as a people.”
In his remarks, the Taraba State governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, noted that his government is committed to ensuring justice and peace so that development can take its rightful course. Kefas maintained that Taraba State, as a nature’s gift to the nation, must be showcased to the rest of the world so that the enormous potentials of the state could be fully utilised.
Also speaking, the governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri commended the Taraba State government for reviving the festival after ten years of negligence and urged the people to use the occasion to unite and live harmoniously.