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Buhari warns secessionists, says his administration committed to keeping Nigeria one
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned those trying to divide the country stating that Nigeria is better and stronger together regardless of diversity in ethnicity, culture, language, and religion.
The president stated this while speaking virtually at the 12th annual colloquium organized to mark the birthday of All Progressive Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu in Kano state.
Buhari said “Despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in our national history, it seems to me that we have all agreed on one point: That notwithstanding our diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, Nigerians are better together, even stronger together,”
He said the theme of the event “Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: the imperative of National cohesion for growth and prosperity” speaks to a very contemporary but potentially ruinous trend which we must all join hands to check at once
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The President said, “I can also relate personally to the ideals of One Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country.
“In the course of my career, I have also been opportuned to serve in all parts of Nigeria seeing firsthand the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation.
The president said he fought for Nigeria’s unity during the 1967-1970 civil war and saw firsthand the unspeakable horrors of war not just on fellow soldiers on both sides but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind.”
“The peacekeeping, recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity,” he added.
“We must count our blessings in Nigeria and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity. The lessons of this colloquium are clear.
“Our very best course of conduct both as leaders and citizens is to now ensure that justice and harmony reign in Nigeria till we devote the resources of our country solely for its development and benefits of our citizens and, in the process, ensure that every Nigerian feel comfortable in every part of Nigeria.
“We all have a stake in the Nigerian project and while playing our respective parts in its unity, peace and progress, we must constantly keep faith with the promise of a greater Nigeria.”
Buhari also congratulated Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose 69th birthday is being celebrated, describing him as a known advocate of unity and cohesion.
“This has been a constant factor in his (Tinubu’s) outstanding political career from the time he served in the senate of the third republic to his involvement in the struggle of the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola to his much-acclaimed period of service as governor of Lagos state,” he said.
“The ranks of Asiwaju’s political collaborators, whether as party members, comrades in the struggle, members, comrades in the struggle, members of his cabinet, or his advisers, assistants and political associates have always reflected a pan-Nigeria attitude.
