Daud Olatunji
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that every region in Nigeria has, at one time or another, planned secession, challenging the notion that Igbos should be singled out and punished for Biafra’s attempted secession.
He argued that the foundational problem plaguing Nigeria is regionalism, which has continually fostered division and hindered national unity.
Obasanjo made these remarks on Tuesday while hosting members of the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The meeting, which began with a closed-door session between Obasanjo and Shekarau, later extended to a broader discussion with the league members.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Obasanjo asserted that no ethnic group should be punished for secessionist tendencies, as every part of the country had, at some point, contemplated breaking away.
He particularly criticized the idea of excluding Igbos from the presidency because of the Biafra civil war, describing it as unfair and misguided.
He referenced the North’s “Araba” movement, aimed at secession during the country’s early years,saying, “what is ‘Araba’ in the North?”
Obasanjo emphasised that the North had also considered breaking up Nigeria, just as the Igbos did with Biafra.
He said the North might have broken away from Nigeria if not for the advice of the erstwhile president of Cameroon, Ahmadou Ahidjo, who governed between 1966 and 1989.
He said Ahijo warned the northern leaders then, against carrying out their threat to break away from Nigeria.
He said “I think all of us in Nigeria have to rethink,it bleeds my heart when people say because the Igbos had carried out secession, an Igbo man cannot be the president of Nigeria. I say what nonsense?
“There is no section of Nigeria that has not planned secession. What is ‘Araba’ in the North? The North planned to break up Nigeria. What is the treasonable felony? So, who among us can say I am better than the other? None!”
He argued that Nigeria was one of the few African countries that gained independence with multiple regional leaders, a legacy that continues to hinder national unity.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s complex history, Obasanjo said, “At independence, we had three leaders. So, we attained independence with putting three countries in one, and that has remained part of our problem for a long time.”
He warned that regionalism continues to pose a significant threat to the country’s cohesion, noting that whenever the rhetoric of North, West, and East arises, he feels “frightened.
Obasanjo urged Nigerians to prioritize national identity over ethnic affiliations, stating that his Yoruba heritage should not be a hindrance to his loyalty to Nigeria.
“I am a Yoruba man, and I’m proud to be a Yoruba man, but my being Nigerian should not be the enemy of my being a Yoruba man. Neither should my being a Yoruba man be the enemy of my being a Nigerian.”
He further called for a rethinking of leadership selection based on merit rather than regional or ethnic considerations, insisting that the best candidate should lead the country regardless of their background.
“If we do not get the best man for the job, it doesn’t matter where he comes from, we are deceiving ourselves.”
Expressing disappointment with Nigeria’s failure to meet its potential, Obasanjo lamented that the country had let down not only its citizens but also Africa and the black race globally.
He referenced Nigeria’s previous influence during the fight against colonialism and apartheid, noting that the country once commanded respect on the global stage, but has since lost that standing.
“We have disappointed ourselves, we have disappointed Africa, we have disappointed the black race, and we have disappointed the world.
“ That is the truth,” Obasanjo said, warning that the world is aware of Nigeria’s struggles, even if Nigerians themselves refuse to acknowledge them.
Calling for a renewed sense of unity, Obasanjo reiterated that Nigeria’s future depends on collective efforts to transcend ethnic and regional divisions.