American Black rights activist and Baptist Minister, Rev Jesse Jackson, says Nigeria will not know peace until there is economic justice, avoidance of greed, ethnicity and jealousy which according to him constituted the great cog in the wheel of developments in any nation.
In his lecture titled, Oil and Peace; Compatibility for Sustainable Growth in Nigeria, which forms part of activities to mark Major Adaka Jasper Isaac Boro Memorial Week, the two time Presidential aspirant of the United States of America, and Democrat, Rev Jackson said lack of unity and bad government could regard the progress of Nigeria
He noted that God has bestowed Nigeria with both natural and human resources, saying ‘’Nigerians are a brilliant people. They are at the heart of the economy in the Diaspora. Many of the World’s greatest scholars, scientists, teachers and engineers are from Nigeria”
The Amarican clergyman said even though “Nigeria has won its Independence-but it’s not enough to be free, the people will not rest until there is economic justice and equality. It is a sin in this Garden of Eden for such inequality and poverty to exist alongside such riches and oil resources”.
“It is not the lack of resources but greed, jealously and violence that hinder our development. We cannot allow the oil companies to denigrate our Garden of Eden, to pollute our air and water and land and violate the preciousness of the Niger Delta with environmental warfare”
Discussing the issues raised in the lecture, a former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, to late President Yar Adua, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai said the activities of the dreaded Islamic sect-Boko Haram predated the present political administration.
He stated that the sect became active in 2001 when it attacked five states in the North, arguing that it was not aimed at undermining the government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as being assumed
Yakassai said the North had no reason undermining Jonathan’s administration having given him the highest vote during the PDP primary and the general elections, pointing out that since “we are democracy, Jonathan’s ambition to re-contest could also be another person’s ambition to try his luck on the same position”.
Yakassai, a member of Northern Elders Forum, however, praised Boro for his struggle to emancipate his people but pointed that the Ijaw hero did not fight a selfish battle to divide Nigeria hence he has to join Federal soldiers to fight against Biafra.
