Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other participants at the just concluded National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) Rivers 2018, have said that the cultural event, which drew participants from the 36 States, is what is needed to cement unity in Nigeria.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahia, who spoke at Sharks’ Football Stadium, Port-Harcourt, on the closing day of the ceremony, said “If politics has failed us, if religion has failed us, from what I saw here today, culture has not failed us. Let it become an epicentre for our unity and the greatness of this nation and I say let the greatness of this nation start in Rivers State today. Let us move together in cultural form to love ourselves and in unity, to pursue the indivisible programme of God for our nation that is founded on fairness, equity and justice”.
On his part, the host governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, thanked the organizing committee for the NAFEST, as well as the participating States and the Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, for believing in the unity of the country.
Wike, who described Rivers State as “loving” and “hospitable”, added that the State was secure which was why it successfully hosted other major events.
He appealed to Nigerians to use culture to unite the country, adding that there is unity in the country’s diversity as he expressed the willingness of the Rivers State Government to host the programme again next year.
Governor Wike said: “I don’t see it as competition but as people who have come together to showcase the cultural heritage of our people, to showcase that Nigeria in unity in diversity, we live together…Let us use culture to unite this country”.
He said that the fact that participants at the NAFEST came from different States in the federation meant that culture could be used to unite Nigerians and urged the people of the country to continue to support the National Council for Arts and Culture.
Also speaking, a Commissioner in the Rivers State Executive Council, Hon. Prince John Bazia, said that culture could be used to sustain the unity of Nigeria and stressed the need for NAFEST to be part of the country’s national life.
The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, also said that the cultural event, which held in Port-Harcourt, unites the people of the country.
This was as some local government council chairmen in Rivers State, who also expressed their views, said that culture could be used to unify the country, stating that hosting the event shows that Rivers State is safe for investors to come and do business.
The Chairman of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Tony Philemoor, described the NAFEST event as “wonderful”, saying that it showed that there is peace in Rivers State.
The Degema Council Chairman said: “This is a blend of every culture, a blend of every state …This is the unity that Nigeria is looking for and not to divide us. Nigeria is one and we are one people, no matter the diversity. In fact, the diversity is our strength. We are one indivisible people”.
On his part, the Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon. Eugene Jaja, said that the event showed the peace, love and unity among Nigerians and appealed that the festival should be held frequently.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, noted that NAFEST is a tool for national unity and described it as a necessary cultural event for the country’s survival.
