President Muhammadu Buhari has warned those
agitating for the Republic of Biafra as well as Niger
Delta militants who are destroying oil installations
in the region.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja
Tuesday night at the breaking of fast dinner for
members of the Federal Executive Council, Buhari
asked Biafra agitators and the militants to reflect
"very seriously" on the Civil War of 1967-1970
"where about two million Nigerians lost their lives."
He said: "And at that time, as young military
officers, you hardly heard of anything about
petroleum or whatever money you got from it. Look
at what Gen. Gowon said `To keep Nigeria one is a
task that must be done’ and every soldier whether
he has been to school or not knew what the general
meant.
"But we were quarrelling with our brothers, we were
not fighting an enemy and then somebody is saying
that once again, he wants Biafra. I think this is
because he was not born when there was Biafra.
We have to reflect on the historical antecedents to
appreciate what is before us now and what we
intend to leave for our children and our grand
children."
President Buhari also said that "Leading the people
is not a joke. It means accepting responsibilities for
good or wrong."
The president also stated that Nigeria needed a lot
of prayers in view of the current economic and
security challenge.
"We need a lot of prayers. Certainly, with the
nation’s economy going down. We haven’t
developed the agriculture, we're still trying to talk on
those who'll come and develop the solid mineral for
us," he said. Buhari said Ramadan provides leaders
the opportunity to be more conscious of their
responsibilities to the citizens.
"It strengthens our resolve to build our country to
make it stronger and to make sure that the
incoming generations are sufficiently motivated to
be patriotic. It's no news that we are the biggest
country in Africa, we're the economy engine of
Africa, which are true by the way. But, we must
always be patriotic in our dealings with others.
"This month of prayers and service to God, let's
keep on these prayers all the times, believing that
God in His infinite mercy will listen to our prayers,
give us peace, security and better the economy
once more so that we can quickly rebuild and even
do more for the country.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke on behalf
of the cabinet members, thanked Buhari for inviting
them for the breaking of fast dinner.
