Connect with us

Politics

Obasanjo fears Nigeria may break up

Published

on

No right thinking person'll want Nigeria's break up, Obasanjo says of IPOB, MASSOB, others' agitations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday lamented that at no time in history, has Nigeria been so ‘fractured’ as it is now.

He argued that except for the country’s civil war period between 1967 and 1970, no other time has the country’s oneness been threatened as presently.

He added that there has been an average of twenty hot spots across the country with huge potential for national disintegration in the last four months.

Obasanjo cautioned those calling for Nigeria’s break up, adding that the activities of the Niger-Delta Avengers, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen has been causing division in the country.

He spoke at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ national summit held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

Professor Peter Okebukola, who represented former President Obasanjo at the event, called on the media to stop fanning the embers of disunity but should rather take the lead in the marching towards greater national integration and development.

Read also: Herdsmen, Actions And Consequences

“At no time in our history, except probably during the civil war, has Nigeria been so fractured in the feeling of oneness and belongingness by the citizenry. In the last four months, we have an average of twenty hot spots across the country with huge potential for national disintegration.

“The press should mobilise the masses to strengthen the democratic process and play a crucial role in promoting a culture of tolerance, non-violence and mutual co-existence. For me, this Summit will only be successful if we find a niche for the press in our march to ensuring greater national cohesion, especially at this time in our history.

“Our strength as a nation lies in our unity and national cohesion and I want to entreat you (the media) to begin to preach the gospel of unity in diversity and unity of purpose and cohesion,” he said.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

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