The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr Edem Duke, has described Friday's multiple bomb blasts in parts of Kano as alarming.
Duke said in Calabar on Monday during an interaction with newsmen that the explosions which reportedly killed more than 150 people had left many Nigerians devastated.
“The incident in Kano has left many of us as Nigerians devastated; such an act is very alarming.”
He said it was unfortunate for Kano, with its rich cultural diversity, to witness such an incident, and harped on the need for local people to work with security agents in order to identify and fish out undesirable elements in the society.
“We must all have to increase our security consciousness,” Duke said, while commiserating with the people and Kano State Government.
He stressed the need for all Nigerians to work toward the unity of the country.
“We will like to commiserate with the people and government of Kano State; we must endeavour to ensure that Nigeria remains one as a nation.”
The minister said the recent strike and peaceful protests over the removal of fuel subsidy were part of the sacrifice which Nigerians had to make to ensure the stability of the polity.
He commended the citizens for conducting themselves in an orderly manner during the protests, noting that it showed the level of growth of democracy in the country.
“A lot of people would see the reaction of the people as being negative, but aside of the few incidents of breakdown of law and order and attempt by politicians to hijack the system, Nigerians conducted themselves remarkably well.”
Duke also said that Nigeria's democracy could no longer be described as nascent because it had developed fully like in advanced countries of the world.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for listening to the people, saying “we also want to acknowledge the president for an unusual show of understanding.
“There is today an eloquent testimony that the president is a listening president.”
The minister said that in the life of every nation there must be a time to take difficult and painful decisions in order to move the country forward.
“In such a situation, you must have a leader who will be bold enough to take such decisions.”