Buhari shuts down talks of secession, says ‘we are stronger together’

President Muhammadu Buhari has again shut down talks of Nigeria’s breakup, restating his administration’s commitment to keeping the country as one.

While speaking at the 12th Bola Tinubu colloquium on Monday, the president said all citizens have a stake in the Nigerian project.

He said Nigerians must count the blessings following the 1967-1970 civil war and forget about secession.

The president’s comment comes amid continued calls for Nigeria’s breakup from both the proponents of a Biafran government and other aggrieved citizens.

Speaking virtually at the colloquium which is holding in Kano state, Buhari said Nigerians are stronger together than apart.

“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 president recalled how he fought for Nigeria’s unity during the civil war which he said left behind “unspeakable horrors”. 

“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.