By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has warned against the deterioration of public relationships in Nigeria, which it attributed to the mismanagement of the country’s diversity.
The President of the Institute, Mallam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo disclosed this recently when the leadership of the institute paid a courtesy call on the founder of the United Airlines Services and the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), at the forthcoming Anambra Governorship election, Dr Obiora Okonkwo in Abuja.
Sirajo said “Our God given diversity should be an advantage instead of a disadvantage, and should be deliberately and properly harnessed for the collective good and advancement of the society”.
He noted that Nigeria has seen better days and that nobody can deny the fact that this country is not what it used to be, hence the title of the annual lecture tagged, ‘Reinventing Nigeria’s unity for global relevance in the 21st century.’
“The Institute is worried about the deteriorating relationships in Nigeria. The components of this country related better in the past. Now there is a cloud of mistrust and distrust. Instead of our God given diversity to be used for the benefit of all, it has been turned on its head. So coming together to make the best of our diversity is imperative, given the negative outlook that is now pervasive.
“The present generation don’t have this luxury as we now judge people mostly on the basis of their ethnic or religious origin. In those days the right place meant the point you were making. This is not the kind of country we want to build or bequeath to posterity. No conscious effort is being made to make tomorrow better than today, he stated.
On his part, Dr Obiora Okonkwo stated that pervasive injustice is responsible for the persistent instability and insecurity rocking the country.
He added that Nigeria’s development trajectory is nothing to write home about, leaving much of the citizens with nothing but nostalgia, and hopelessness.
“Even within the family unit when injustice is perceived, revolt is bound to be the natural outcome. Adding that short sightedness and individual personal greed has escalated the situation and brought the country to the edge, Okonkwo stated.