It was the gathering of the eagles during the 1st stakeholders Dinner and interactive session held by the chief Kenny Martins led Legacy initiative international on the way forward concerning the 2019 election.
Tagged inter-faith collaboration in Nation building under the chairmanship of Chief (Dr) olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, August 23rd,2018 at Oriental hotel, Lagos, dignitaries such as General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Chief (Mrs) Opral Benson, Chief Kenny Martins, Alhaji Muazu Abubakar, representing Sultan of Sokoto, Oni of Ife, Rt honorable Speaker Titi Oseni, amongst others graced the colourful epoch making event.
In his speech, the grand patron of the group, chief kenny Martins, says the days of moneybags taking key decisions in the political space will be over.
He said the group is set to bring Muslim and Christian leaders to work together together and build the nation.
Martins said he has met with top leaders of the two faiths and they have shown willingness to work together.
He added that religion should be a uniting factor and not a dividing line, but few people take advantage of it to divide the people.
“We believe it is time for Nigerians to rise up and say no more will this country and the people be taken for granted,” he said.
“And that is why we believe that we have two critical pillars that will play a role in this. They are the pillars of interplay of the two faiths that hold this country together, the Islamic and the Christian religions. Having met all the leaders of these two faiths, privately and publicly, we are overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and readiness that it is time they work together.
“We have played on the separation of these two religions to the advantage of very few. It suits them to be Christians or Muslims when it is to their advantage. It is time we go back to those times where the Christian leaders will sit down with the Muslim leaders on the other side and look at the factors that are critical to our development and unity in this country.
“Today, Nigerians need to take that decision that we are moving forward and challenging ourselves that in the next decade or so we want to be among developed nations. We want to bring conscience into politics. We want the will of the people to reflect in the polity and power dynamics. This is what legacy is about. This is the sermon we are preaching.
“The days of politics by moneybags will be over. Credibility, acceptance and approval of God and the people shall be your only reason to enter into the office.”
On his own, the sultan of Sokoto represented by Sarkin Sokoto, Alhaji Muazu Abubakar, urged the electorate to vote wisely to ensure that only those who could deliver got to power.
“We are already in the season of politics, and many aspirants are busy trying to sell themselves to the electorate ahead of the 2019 elections.
“I urge Nigerians to use their PVCs to vote wisely and according to their conscience in order to elect credible leaders,” he said.
Abubakar also advised non-partisan leaders to play their part to promote the emergence of credible leaders.
He called for peaceful co-existence of citizens of different backgrounds, saying it was only in an atmosphere of peace that the goals of the nation would be realised.
Furthermore, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, also called on Nigerians to vote competent and credible leaders.
Represented by Elerefe of Erefe, Oba Fayemi Johnson, the monarch also urged citizens to participate in the electoral process to be part of nation building.
He commended Legacy Initiative International for their efforts at championing good leadership in the country.
“I commend the Initiative of the group; Nigerians need to support patriotic ideas like this to promote good governance,” he said.
The monarch urged Nigerians to support the group in its quest to encourage good leadership at all levels.
In his remarks, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Gen.Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), said many of the country’s challenges were due to bad leadership.
He, therefore, urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards and elect those who would deliver the goods.
“This is the time for Nigerians to wake up to their responsibilities and vote leaders they believe could serve their interests.
“People should go and obtain their PVCs and elect those who can secure their future and that of their children,” he said.