The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,? yesterday, identified religious intolerance, ignorance, ethnic rivalry, poverty and unemployment as? factors responsible for violent conflicts in Nigeria.
Speaking at a two-day “National conference on Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role Of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen,” organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Abuja, Obasanjo who spoke through Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) National Secretary, said that the most critical of these factors was “ ignorance which leads to suspicion and mistrust”.
According to him, “another critical factor worthy of consideration is a breakdown of our cherished cultural values. Hitherto, Nigerians are a peace loving people and therefore had an in-built culture of respect for sanctity of human life, elders and constituted authority, appreciation for ethnic differences, hard work and diligence”.
He however noted that “unfortunately, the evasion of these values due to increasing acculturation and negative external influences have also contributed largely to the spate of violent crimes and general insecurity we have today”.