Nigeria will remain one – Buhari

 The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, said his regime was determined to keep the country together.

Reminiscing the gory civil war from 1967 – 1970, the President said the price had been paid to ensure Nigeria’s unity. Therefore, political leaders must uphold the ultimate objective of promoting the interest of the country.

According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this when he received former State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change at the State House, Abuja.

The statement was titled, ‘We are Nigerians, God willing we will remain Nigerians, and Nigeria will remain one, says President Buhari.’

He 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 have killed a million of ourselves in order to keep this country together.

The President said the self-centeredness that led to the loss of about a million lives between 1967-1970 must not be allowed to repeat itself, noting that the CPC was founded on the bedrock of patriotism and loyalty to the unity of Nigeria.

“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.

The President said efforts had been made in appointing some members of CPC in his government, including those in the Federal Executive Council like the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, Minister of Water Resources, and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

President Buhari said he was particularly grateful for the “unalterable belief the members of the CPC and, by extension the Nigerian electorate, had and still have in me as demonstrated in their unalloyed support for our electoral struggles which reflected in the results that we consistently recorded at the polls over the years.’’