President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how the late Chukwuemka Odumegwu Ojukwu agreed with that the country must remain an indivisible entity.
The president said this in his nationside broadcast on Monday morning. This came less than 48 hours after his return to the country from London, where he spent more than 100 days on medical vacation.
Recall that while the president was ways, the Acting
president Yemi Osinbajo, had repeatedly insisted that the unity of the
country was not negotiable.
Osinbaho’s comments had come amid agitations for secession in the South East, a quit notice to the Igbo in the North by some northern youths and repeated calls for the restructuring of the country.
President Buhari, in defending the government’s position
on the unity of the country, recalled an encounter with the late General
Chukwuemka Odumegwu Ojukwu in 2003.
According to the President, Ojukwu who led the ‘Republic
of Biafra’ in its attempt to secede from Nigeria from 1967 to 1970
agreed with him that the country should remain united.
In his national broadcast this morning, President Buhari
said, “In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka
Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown in Daura. Over two
days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analysed
the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country
must remain one and united.”
Consequently, the President warned that secessionist
agenda would not be tolerated and that all grievances must be channeled
through legitimate means.
“Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall
not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get
bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing
back order, if necessary with their blood,” he said. (Channelstv)