Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, strongly attacked former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, saying that he will never be part of any evil plot to restructure Nigeria, or to see to its dismemberment.
Recall, that Babangida had recently in Minna, Niger State, called on ailing President, Muhammadu Buhari, to restructure the country, so that Nigeria will not slip into the ember of war.
Babangida had added that Nigeria cannot survive another civil war.
Obasanjo however, who spoke at the Palace of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, when he paid a visit to the Monarch, vehemently opposed Babangida, by saying that Nigeria does not need any form of restructuring.
His words: “The point I note of your dissatisfaction, is that in spite of history and in spite of the current situation of marginalization of your interests and desire, you never asked to be separated from Nigeria.
“When I was President, some people from Ogun State visited Aso Rock, to complain that they were also marginalised. There is nothing wrong in asking for more share of the national cake, but it is unacceptable for anyone to say that the only way out is separation.
“We can solve all our problems through dialogue, debate, discussion, conversation. I participated in the civil war. It was gruesome, destructive, deadly. Those clamouring don’t know what war means. I swore never to be part of it again. They say in my place that he who sees Sango (god of thunder) fighting, destroying with fire, will never want to see Sango in his element again.
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“The answer to most of our problems, is mindset change and change of mentality. If we need any restructuring, it is the restructuring of our mindset and mentality. How will anybody in his right senses believe separation in the way out? We have passed that stage. We have problems, there are many ways we can solve them. It is our diversity that make us a great country. I won’t want a Nigeria where we dance same juju, or wear same attire. Our strength is in our diversity.
“Some progress is being made, in spite of our difficulties and problems. We need to make greater progress than we have made before. If we do that, we will have good governance. There should be no impunity, everybody must have a sense of belonging, a stake in this project called Nigeria.
“Dismemberment of Nigeria is not good enough. Inequality, injustice, unfairness, impunity, are not good enough, and should be substituted.”
Post-Nigeria could recall, that former President, Obasanjo’s current stand on restructuring, was a carry over of his convictions, when he was at the helm of affairs in the country.
As President then, Obasanjo was opposed to any call for the restructuring of Nigeria.
