By Perpetua Onuegbu
Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has called on Nigerians to move beyond ethnicity and religion and promote values that foster national unity and social cohesion.
Amadi made the call on Thursday at the National Social Cohesion Dialogue and the unveiling of the 2025 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey Report, organised by the African Polling Institute (API) in Abuja.
The event, themed “Rebuilding Citizens’ Trust and Public Confidence in Governance and Public Institutions,” brought together stakeholders to examine the growing challenges to national cohesion.
Amadi said Sections 25 and 27 of the Nigerian Constitution define citizenship based on indigeneity, but the state continues to emphasise ethnic and religious differences rather than shared national identity.
“The Nigerian state often refers to religious and ethnic exceptionalism instead of promoting citizenship. This has created a half-hearted approach to policies that should uphold common values and civilisation,” he said.
He emphasised the need to focus on people, not their ethnic or religious backgrounds in times of crisis.
Amadi also identified a breakdown in value systems, noting that young people are disillusioned because hard work is no longer rewarded in Nigeria.
“We must restore the culture of rewarding effort. The crisis we face today is largely because merit no longer determines success,” he said.
He advocated for a renewed social contract between the government and the citizens to rebuild trust and enhance national cohesion.
Presenting the 2025 Social Cohesion Survey, Prof. Bell Ihua, Executive Director of API, said the findings showed that citizens’ trust in government and public institutions is at an all-time low.
“The 2025 survey builds on previous editions from 2019 and 2021 and highlights increasing distrust and declining confidence in the state,” Ihua said.
He revealed that 83 per cent of respondents expressed little or no trust in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, 82 per cent expressed similar sentiments about the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the House of Representatives.
“Additionally, 79 per cent reported little to no trust in the judiciary”.
Ihua said the findings provide valuable insights for shaping policies that promote inclusive governance and rebuild citizens’ confidence.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, represented by Mr Ahmad Sajoh, stressed the need for continuous dialogue on social cohesion.
“We must create a template for shared prosperity and greater understanding among ourselves,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to return to core values that promote empathy, dignity, and unity.
Also speaking, former Rivers Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said the challenge lies not with the elites but with the complacency of citizens who fail to hold leaders accountable.
“Until citizens begin to take responsibility and demand good governance, achieving true social cohesion will remain elusive,” he said. (NAN)