BIAFRA @ 50: We ‘Ve Never Had A Nationalist As President – Obasanjo

….Nigerians Have The Right to Discuss Their Existence, Says Osinbajo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria has never had a nationalist as leader since her existence.

He said this while calling for a dialogue with Biafran agitators at an event organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Biafra in Abuja.

Obasanjo speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the conference on Biafra said “We never had a national leader. Our leaders at the beginning were mindful of their regions. That is our problem till today…”

Speaking further, the former President said the agitation for Biafra was like a woman complaining constantly about her marriage and threatening to file for a divorce against her husband.

Obasanjo said in such a situation, the husband must pet and “ massage ” his wife to make her feel loved.

He stated , “I believe that the point must be clear. Nigeria must be loved and we must treat Nigeria as we treat love affairs. It must be massaged. Nigeria must be massaged by all of us.

“ It is like a love affair. If in a house with a husband and a wife and the wife says ‘I am fed up, I am going ’ and every day, that is the song you hear , you will soon get fed up yourself as the husband and you will say, ‘if you want to go, you can go.’

“ But if there is any misunderstanding and you resolve it, and you find a solution , you will live together almost forever. I believe there is no substitute for holding Nigeria and massaging it as you massage love . There is no alternative and I will say we should even appeal .

“ If anybody says he wants to go, it is not that you will say’ you can go if you want to go.’ Don’t go ! There is enough cake for each and every one of us. If what you are asking for is more of the cake, then ask for it in a way that is pleasant, not in a way that will make others feel you are not entitled to what you are asking for.”

Recalling his role in the Nigerian Civil War, Obasanjo said it was never the plan of the Nigerian government to exterminate the Igbo.

He explained that everything that the federal troops did was in a bid to unite the country.

In the same vein, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who also spoke at the event declared that citizens reserve the right to discuss their continued existence in Nigeria.

The acting President maintained that Nigerians were greater together than apart.

Appealing to citizens to work together to build the nation, Osinbajo advised that Nigerians should not allow their frustrations drive them to see their compatriots as enemies.

According to Osinbajo, the time and the resources spent on the war could have moved the country further in terms of development.

Also, The New Diplomat gathered from series of tweets on Thursday night at the Acting President’s official tweeter handle, where he said Nigerians should never shy away from discussing the terms of our unity because debate was an essential aspect of democracy, but according to him “there is strength in our diversity.”

He added, “I fully believe that Nigerians should exercise, to the fullest extent, the right to discuss and debate the terms of our existence. Debates and disagreements are fundamental aspects of democracy.”

The President of Igbo socio- cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said the political system was jaundiced and hindering proper development, adding that with fiscal autonomy, every state in Nigeria would develop faster.