Reigning Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi, has urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to use activities that interest youths across the country to reach out to them with his message of unity and peaceful co-existence.
Obiadi stated this is a statement she personally signed and issued to newsmen on Monday.
According to her, activities in education, sports and entertainment have held Nigerians together in the past irrespective of family background, ethnicity, social status and religion.
She maintained that a renewed federal government attention to these areas could stem the spate of hate speeches and distrust observed among youth groups in various regions in the country in recent weeks.
While commending Osinbajo for his engagement with leaders of thought drawn from several parts of the country over the quit notice slammed on Igbos by Northern youths, the beauty queen stated that it was high time the Presidency reached out directly to the youths for heart-to-heart meetings and discussions.
She added that such parleys made possible through events that cause youths to look beyond parochial interests would give them a sense of belonging in the Nigerian state.
She further called on leaders at all levels to demonstrate strong commitment towards the creation of a just and humane social order across the six geo-political zones in the country in which the fundamental rights of all Nigerians are respected and the security of their lives and properties is secured.
The statement reads in part: “I Professor Yemi Osinbajo deserves commendation for the steps he has so far taken to calm the frayed nerves occasioned by the recent spate of secessionist agitations and counter-agitations in recent weeks.
“But I call on leaders at all levels to demonstrate a strong commitment towards the creation of a just and humane social order across the six geo-political zones in the country. This, I believe, will give every citizen a sense of belonging; ensure that fundamental human rights of all Nigerians are respected and guaranteed security of lives and property.
“It is good to engage with leaders of thoughts on the issue of Nigeria’s unity. However, a critical look at the recent spate of hate and divisive speech indicates that the threat to the successful integration of the country comes from the youths
“Let me use this opportunity to urge the Acting President to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to engage the youths on peace-building through activities that interests them.
“The youths in Nigeria have shown times without number that in education, sports and entertainment they can put behind parochial interests and ethnic sentiments and relate freely with one another irrespective of socio-cultural backgrounds.”
Obiadi, a geology student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University was crowned the 40th Miss Nigeria at a pageant held in Lagos in December.
