Abuja- Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to support the Kukah Centre as platform for mediation during trouble situations.
Gowon made the call during the official presentation of the Kukah Centre, situated at the Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.
He said that the Centre was an initiative of Bishop Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, adding that it would serve as
“meeting spot’’ for mediation during political, religious, economic and social crisis.
He added that “Nigerians have no alternative but to urgently join hands to get rid of the manace of insecurity caused by the Boko Haram.
“It is against this background that I wish to renew my appeal to Nigerians to remain vigilant and be their neighboure’s keeper.
“This is why I want to urge members of the political class to renew their commitment to democracy as the bedrock for a united country.’’
Gowon said that the country needed more than its current efforts to overcome the insecurity situation it found itself.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr Arthur Aginam, said the Centre was a nascent think tank and had been in operation for more than one year.
He added that “we are committed to greater citizens engagement in the areas of good governance, leadership development and advocacy, as well as knowledge promotion.’’
Aginam said that the Centre had organised pilot projects, including rountables on religion and societal integration, the importance of healing and memory, as well as rebasing the Nigerian economy.
On his part, Kukah recalled his dream of being a writer and expressed the hope that the Centre would be a veritable meeting point for mediation during crisis.
He commended his friends and associates for their support toward making the centre a reality. (NAN)