The agitations are further fuelled by the perception of marginalisation in some parts of the country
Nigerian former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the country’s unity is like any other relationship that is negotiable.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this on Thursday at a book launch, “Remaking Nigeria: sixty years, sixty voices.”
The book, edited by Chido Onumah and published by Premium Times Books, a compendium of sixty essays written by sixty different authors from different sectors, was dived into the various aspects of Nigeria’s existence, while also questioning the values the country has passed through since independence.
Speaking as the chairman of the event – during which he launched the book for N2 million – Atiku said it was “amusing” to hear people declare Nigeria’s unity as fixed, yet they do everything to “destroy the (nation’s) fragile unity.”
The former VP spoke amidst the rise in the rate of insecurity in the country, one that has bred secessionist sentiments and agitations in some parts of the country.
The agitations are further fuelled by the perception of marginalisation in some parts of the country.
Although some leaders of the country including President Muhammadu Buhari and recently, former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, have said Nigeria’s unity cannot be debated, Atiku appears to disagree.
“When we start developing with what we have, more of our people will want to identify with the country, love the country and commit their lives to the country. When that happens, especially with fairness and justice, nation-building accelerates, however imperfectly,” Atiku said.
“This is why I find it amusing when people declare Nigeria’s unity as fixed and non-negotiable, while doing everything in their power to destroy that fragile unity. Nothing in the relationships among peoples is fixed for eternity.
“You cannot declare your marriage as non-negotiable, while doing everything to sow seeds of discord in that same marriage. Countries can be created by force. You can whip groups of people into forming a country but you cannot whip them into forming a nation.
“Nations are built through conscious or even unconscious agreement by peoples who believe that being together is, on balance, more beneficial than being apart.”
