I fought for Nigeria’s unity during the civil war as a soldier – Buhari enjoins secessionists

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is better and stronger together, because he defended the federation’s unity as a soldier during the civil war between July 1967 and January 1970.

Buhari said this while speaking as the chairman of the 12th colloquium to celebrate the 69th birthday ceremony of the All Progressive Congress, APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu.

Themed, ‘Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative Of National Cohesion For Growth And Prosperity, the colloquium holds in Kano.

While delivering his speech, Buhari said the theme of the occasion was suitable for the concurrent issue of seceding and national unity in the country.

He said, “Despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in our national history, it seems to me that we have all agreed on one point that notwithstanding our diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, Nigerians are better together, even stronger together.

“Asiwaju (Tinubu) himself is a known advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria. This has been a constant factor in his outstanding political career from the time he served in the short-lived senate in the third republic to his involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola to his much-acclaimed years of service as the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.”

Speaking further, Buhari revealed that civil war caused “unspeakable horrors”, stating that Nigerians must perceive peace and unity as blessings of nationhood.

Buhari recalled, “I can also relate personally to the ideals of One Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country.

“In the course of my career, I have also been opportune to serve in all parts of Nigeria, seeing firsthand the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation.

“More importantly, I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war – 1967 to 1970, and I saw firsthand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just from fellow soldiers from both sides but from the civilians, innocent children, women and the elderly left behind.

“As we all know, the peacekeeping recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity. We must count our blessings in Nigeria and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity.”