President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday August 9, declared that Nigeria will remain one nation.
The declaration comes amidst agitations by some sections of the country who want Nigeria to break up and create independent Biafra and Oduduwa Republics.
He advised that instead of promoting division, the political class should promote unity through patriotic acts.
Speaking at the State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), President Buhari said the country must not go to war again, in the name of agitation for separation.
“We are Nigerians. God willing, we remain Nigerians, and Nigeria shall remain one,” the President said.
“Our main objective is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are human beings. We have our weaknesses, but I can assure you that the patriotism in us is hard-earned.
“We have gone through all the troubles from 15th of January 1966 to date. You know what I mean by this.
“We killed a million of ourselves to keep this country together.
“I don’t think there can be any practical experience more than that.
“We are Nigerians. God willing we remain Nigerians and Nigeria will remain one.”
President Buhari during the event also thanked the members of the defunct CPC for their support and loyalty, urging them to always work for the peace and progress of Nigeria.
“I commend members of this forum and all members of the legacy party-CPC, for their continued dedication to the ideals of democratic governance that we all believed in.
“The doggedness with which we pursued our vision and goals that culminated into the success we recorded remain like bright stars in the history of our dear nation,” he stated.
On their part, the defunct CPC leaders who spoke through the Chairman of the Forum and former Chairman of the party in Niger State, Umar Shuaibu, said they will continue to support Buhari.
He commended the President for all that he is doing to lead the country right and running an all-inclusive government.
“Before you, the opposition was arrested and maltreated, but it is no longer so,” he said.
“You did not deny them what they denied you when they were in power.”
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