Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigerians would fare better staying together than break up.
Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta at his investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyor (NIS) organised by the Ogun chapter of the Body of Fellows of the NIS.
The elder statesman called on agitators for the disintegration of the country to shelve the idea and work for the oneness of the country.
According to him, it is better for Nigeria to remain as one indivisible nation than for each tribe to go its separate way.
The former President, who acknowledged that Nigeria is passing through challenges, insisted that “disintegration is not the solution”.
According to him, any Nigerian who does not feel concerned about the challenges of the country is a human being without being human.
He said “It is better that Nigeria stays together and find solutions to its challenges than for each tribe to go its separate way.
“I am a strong believer of one Nigeria but not one Nigeria at any cost but one Nigeria where every Nigerian can feel proud that he or she has a stake in this country.
“Those of us who have shed part of our blood and sweat for this country, we did so because we wanted a country where every Nigerian can claim as his or her own.
“I believe that if we talk among ourselves the way we should and if we change the narrative, I believe this is a great country.
“The fact that we are not making Nigeria what God wants it to be is not the fault of God, but our fault particularly the leaders.”
Obasanjo who noted that Nigeria’s diversity remained a major source of its strength, explained that disintegration would result in “weak republics”.
“One thing that gives us strength is our diversity. If all that we have is Republic of Oduduwa for those who say so, members of that country will be diminished compared to being a citizen of Nigeria.
“Citizens of Oduduwa Republic or any other republic borne out of Nigeria will be diminished compared to being citizens of Nigeria.
“In this age and time that we are talking about the reintegration of Africa for economic development, disintegration of any country will be almost idiotic,” he said.
