Amidst demands by ethnic nationalities and the Indigenous People of Biafra for secession, a South-East socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo (Worldwide), on Wednesday, warned proponents of division to have a rethink as Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable.
The Chairman of the Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo (Worldwide), Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, raised the concern in Abuja during the third Igbo Nsukka United Front and Zik Annual Merit Award in Abuja with the theme, ‘Nigeria of our dreams: possibilities, challenges and realities’, as part of activities to mark the posthumous birthday of elder statesman and nationalist, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Other leaders at the event included a former governor of Enugu State, Okwesilieze Nwodo; the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Prof. Uche Azikiwe, wife of late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; and Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum.
Iwuanyanwu said, “Secession is never an option. Everybody is thinking of being large or big. Nigeria today is a large area of about 200 million people. Whatever you’re doing, if you’re a businessman, then you have a market for 200 million people. Why do you want to break it and go to a smaller place? So, I think that all these people talking about secession should please think about it.
While extolling Azikiwe for placing, as top priority, the unity of Nigeria, Sultan Abubakar, represented by Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, called on Nigerians to take a cue from him and make peace top on the list of national agenda.
“I call on my Igbo brothers and sisters, home and abroad, to emulate the good deeds of our father (Zik). He never fought for only the Eastern part of the country but he was with everyone”, he said.
Zulum, who was represented by the Borno State Commissioner for Environment, Yerima Saleh, said Azikiwe left positive footprints on the African continent.
“This is a rare true meaning of nationalism that we need to promote. His efforts in the struggle for independence was for the nationhood of Nigeria and not for ethnic or original nationalists,” he added.
While bemoaning the current state of the country, Zik’s wife, Uche, called on all political leaders to ensure that the unity of Nigeria was preserved.
She said, “I am always worried when certain things are happening in Nigeria. The few years I lived with him. I know how he pressured Nigeria. He never said whatever would make Nigeria disintegrate, God forbids.
“That is why I will stand on behalf of Azikiwe to pray that whatever happens, Nigeria will never disintegrate. Please let us come together. It will make him happy and make some of his other contemporaries happy that Nigeria is one.”
Delivering his keynote speech, a legal practitioner, Mainasara Umar, recounted historical events and the efforts put in place to achieve independence for Nigeria.
