Peace Corps for unity, national integration – Emir of Katsina

The Emir of Katsina and Chairman, Katsina State Council of Emirates, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has described the Peace Corps of Nigeria as agent of peace, unity and national integration.
The Paramount Ruler said Nigeria was in dire need of organisations such as Peace Corps, at a time the nation was sliding into deep crisis as a result of insecurity, hate speeches, chauvinism, agitations, quit notice, unpatriotic and selfish interest of some leaders, amongst others.

Speaking in his palace, Thursday, when he recieved the national officers of Peace Corps of Nigeria and Coordinators from the 7 states of the North West region, the Emir said Nigeria should use the opportunity to prove to the world that “we are truly giant of Africa”.
“Religious and tribal sentiments are the greatest enemies of this country. Until we learn how to tolerate each other, no matter the tribe or religion, we would not get it right in this country”, the Emir said.
The monarch, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said other states should learn from Katsina, where the indigenes lived happily with non-indigenes, and Igbo and Yoruba having critical positions in the Emirates.
He said, “We should be one. We live side by side, we sit down side by side to eat and drink together here. Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Birom, we should remain united. Igbos and Yorubas are my brothers and sisters, I will use my last blood to fight for one Nigeria”.

On the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill which was recently passed by the National Assembly, the Emir pledged the total support of the Emirates in Council, urging the President to quickly assent to the Bill, to help empower the teeming youth and curtail social vices in the society.
Earlier in his address, the National Commandant of the Corps, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh, lauded the traditional ruler for championing the course of peace and mutual integration among the indigenes and the dwellers.
While pledging total support of the Peace Corps Officers to the programmes of the Emirates that would further enhance peace and unity in the state, Akoh also appealed for the support of the traditional council and royal blessings for the speedy assent to the Bill, which will soon be transmitted to the Presidency by the National Assembly.
The National Assembly had recently passed a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps, to give legal backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria, under the leadership of Akoh.

Though the report of the Committee was adopted July 25th 2017 by the Senate, but according to the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, the bill has not been transmitted to the presidency.
“The legal unit of the National Assembly has to put finishing touches before the clean bill would be transmitted to President Buhari for his assent”, a source close to the leadership of National Assembly disclosed.