Nigeria First As we have all witnessed recently, the path of national development is never smooth. On our journey to building Nigeria into all that God has blessed us to be, we will go through many rough patches. To build our beloved nation into a more perfect Federation may be considered an improbable quest or a mission impossible by some. But the secret to all impossibility was revealed by God when He said... "If these people as ONE people, speaking with ONE voice have begun to do this, then NOTHING that they imagine shall be IMPOSSIBLE for them." We may differ in opinion, but we must not let our differences divide us. We are ONE NATION and ONE PEOPLE with ONE GLORIOUS DESTINY. As the current protests continue, we are compelled to bring to your immediate attention a looming crisis with unimaginable consequences if not well-handled by ALL OF US - government, leadership and populace. On Jan 3rd, a faceless terrorist group called the Boko Haram issued a 3-day ultimatum asking ALL Nigerians of southern origin and ALL Christians to "leave" the North - regardless of whether they were southern origin Muslims, or whether they were Christians born and bred in the North. Boko Haram since then have attacked and killed 20 NIGERIANS whilst they were at a town hall meeting in Mubi, and on the same day killed another 10 NIGERIANS in Maiduguri and 6 NIGERIANS were also killed Bogo. More recently, another group - the Biafran Liberation Council (BLC) - issued a similar 7-day ultimatum to Northerners and Muslims in the Southern part of the nation to leave the area or be ready to become "victims". In the heat of the protests against the fuel subsidy removal, these vile ultimatums and abominable acts of murder against unarmed and defenceless NIGERIANS have been glossed over with a grossly-inadequate response by all and sundry. Through our silence, WE have ALL collectively failed our fellow countrymen who have lost their lives. If these are left unchecked, Nigerians may over the next few days, weeks and months be 'surprised' by the most abominable acts of ETHNIC CLEANSING. We may soon start to label our fellow Nigerians as 'kinsman' or 'enemy' based on where their parents are from, and not their contribution to the society, or common threads of national unity that bind us together as Nigerians. History is replete with the unthinkable consequence of ethnic based attacks. Indeed, NIGERIANS remember the consequences of the 1967-1970 Civil War. The real question is "can we learn from lessons of the past and apply them today to secure our future?" Let us make this clear... All our debates and arguments about Fuel Subsidy removal will be inconsequential if we do NOTHING about this impending threat to our NATIONAL UNITY. We therefore call on all Nigerians to condemn the attacks and threats by Boko Haram, as well as the ultimatums of BLC, or any other group against Nigerians anywhere in OUR OWN COUNTRY. We call on all our elder statesmen and members of the Council of State to IMMEDIATELY arise and meet with all the key traditional rulers from all the geopolitical regions of our nation. They MUST ALL condemn these attacks and threats with ONE VOICE. We call on all religious leaders (Christian and Muslim) particularly the leaders of all the major religious associations to IMMEDIATELY meet and stand together to condemn all attacks and ensue for peace with ONE VOICE. We must all act with ONE PURPOSE... AND PUT NIGERIA FIRST We must all stand together as ONE PEOPLE... though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. We must all speak with ONE VOICE and condemn every ethnic and religious attack, threat and ultimatum. More than ever at this time of national crisis, it is time for us to speak out and PUT NIGERIA FIRST God bless you and God bless Nigeria