NIGERIANS ASKED TO BE LAW-ABIDING (PAGE 36)

THE Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has advised Nigerian residents in the country to be law-abiding and live in peace and harmony with Ghanaians.
He said although there were similarities between Ghanaians and Nigerians, it was important to acknowledge that there were also differences in the perception and ways of life of the two peoples.
“Ghana and Nigeria have a lot in common but we must realise that our way of thinking is different from that of our Ghanaian brothers and sisters. The way we see things, therefore, is also different from the way the Ghanaian see things,” Senator Obanikoro said.
Senator Obanikoro, who gave the advice when he interacted with the Nigerians community in Wa in the Upper West Region, said the only way they could live in peace and harmony with Ghanaians was for them to shed their egoistic tendencies and respect the laws of the land.
The high commissioners’ visit was part of a working tour of the northern part of the country to interact with Nigerians community.
Senator Obanikoro also appealed to them to co-operate with each other and help weed out the bad lots amongst them to protect the image of Nigeria.
Responding to questions, Senator Obanikoro hinted that a new national identity card would soon be produced for them and gave the assurance that he would work to ensure that one of the Nigerian banks opened a branch in Wa to enhance the financial transactions between them and their families back in Nigeria.
Earlier, the high commissioner paid courtesy calls on the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid and his deputy, Mr Kale Cezar, at Wa.
During his interactions, he expressed his joy about the positive reports he received about Nigerians in all the regions he visited.
“Nigerians are not criminals, we are very hard-working, peace-loving and God-fearing people, we are not rogues; it is only a few of us who are bent on making money at all costs and therefore will do anything to get it and this is not limited to Nigerians alone,” he lamented.
Senator Obanikoro further challenged Nigerians to rise up and fight to redeem their sinking image, saying, “It is believed that perception is the reality and so do not allow the miscreants among us to define who we are”.
For his part, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, traced the relations between the two countries and said it was sad that a few bad lots were dragging the name of Nigeria in the mud.
Mr Khalid said the two countries, as Africans, must begin to tell the world their own story to set the records straight because perception, when harboured by people, could be misleading.
He thanked the high commissioner for his visit and stressed the need for Ghanaians and Nigerians to be at peace with each other saying, “We have just found oil and hopefully there is a lot we will have to learn from Nigeria”.