Nigerians have a right to decide to stay together or not —Mailafia

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Obadiah Mailafia, says Nigerians have a right to decide whether to stay together in an entity, or go their separate ways.

Mailafia who was a participant in an online talk show, ‘The Toyin Falola Interviews,’ with the theme: ‘Nigeria: How to Fix a Failing State,’ on Sunday, also said the “ordinary people” in the country do not have issues with each other, but the problems they face come from the elites who use them against one another.

“Nigerians have a choice to stay together as a nation or to be divided. It is in the hands of Nigerians. For me, it is better to go separate ways if that will bring peace,” Mailafia said when asked about the continued existence of the country.

“Having said that, I think the choice is ours. For me, I will say let’s give it at least the last try. But just like in marriage, if people are trying to kill each other in a marriage, it is better for them to be separated for the sake of peace.

“We’re enmeshed in so many ways. You can’t take that away from us. But today, we face huge problems. In spite of those huge problems, the underlying currents of unity are still there,” he said.

Commenting on the problems facing the northern part of the country, the former CBN Deputy Governor noted that the “peculiar disease” facing the north is perpetuated by elites who do not like the country.

Read also: NBC fines Nigeria Info N5m for broadcasting ‘inciting views’ of Obadiah Mailafia

“We have a peculiar disease in northern Nigeria perpetuated by elites. They are very bankrupt, they are very jaundiced, and they hate the country.

“That is what I’m beginning to see, because with all these killings, they are not talking. But when you open your mouth small, they say ‘who told you to say that?’

“I’m a village boy. I like to listen to people in the rural areas — the ordinary people — and they have no problem with each other. The Fulani that live in my area, they speak our language.

“It is elites who are fanning, firing these embers of war and civil strife. So, if we can look beyond these and gather a coalition of well-meaning Nigerians to put forward a new agenda and new national project, let’s give it a try.

“So, if we are going to keep slaughtering each other, then it is better to separate every side and then on their own, the Middle Belt could decide who they want to partner with and join Yorubaland, or Oduduwa and Biafra to become another country.

“Let that be their free choice and referendum. This would be an option, instead of slaughtering each other.”

 

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now