Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
State has appealed to Nigerians not to allow differences and the challenges
confronting various ethnic nationalities to divide them as members of a united
country.
Ajimobi made this appeal in his
goodwill message issued in Ibadan on Saturday by his Special Adviser on
Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, on the occasion of the 57th
independence anniversary of Nigeria.
While admitting that many things
were wrong with the current federal arrangement in Nigeria which, according to
him, had put some parts of the country at a serious disadvantage, he said that
things could be sorted out under, one and indivisible country.
Ajimobi said, “It is quite
unfortunate that at 57, Nigerians are more divided along ethnic and religious
lines than we used to be at independence in 1960. The drum of separation is
being beaten now more than ever before.
“Ethnic groups with separatist
agenda are springing up on daily basis, while erstwhile brothers and
compatriots are taking up arms against one another, with others shouting `To
thy tent, O Israel’.
“Right now, many of our
countrymen see Nigeria as one alien enterprise from which they are very distant
and which has no bearing on their existence. This alienation had led to the
series of unwholesome developments which have put Nigeria on the map of
violence-ridden countries.
“While it is true that some
ethnic nationalities have not fared better under the current federal
arrangement, the solution does not lie in the disintegration of the country or
issuance of quit notice by one ethnic group to another.
“We are indeed better and
stronger together with common aspirations in a united Nigeria.’’
Ajimobi then called for concerted
efforts at combating the violence, maiming and wanton destruction of lives and
property, all in the name of religious extremism.
“More fundamentally, let us
combat the demon of violence and crimes that is posturing as part of our clime.
We must wean our country from the hands of this unwholesome tag that is a major
disincentive to growth and development.
“We should hold the relative
peace in the country very sacred and deepen the confines of peace. We can do
this by living peaceably with our fellow men and women and put Nigeria at the
centre of our interpersonal relationships”.
Ajimobi while congratulating
Nigerians on the occasion, called for more patriotism, resilience and
determination on their part to ensure that the country attains greatness.
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