By Oladipo Airenakho
Benin City, Nigeria – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that Nigeria’s unity “is non-negotiable,” as the nation marks its 56th Independence anniversary.
He said no amount of sponsored acts of sabotage will lead to the negotiation of the nation’s unity, adding that no nation in the world is perfect.
Oshiomhole made the assertion during a ceremony to mark the nation’s 56th Independence anniversary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, today.
“I am one of those who believe and I am not reluctant when I say and I wish to repeat today that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable. The unity of Nigeria cannot be re-negotiated.”
According to him, it is not whether it is perfect or not as there is no nation that is perfect, urging Nigerian elite to rethink.
“If things go wrong as Karl Marx taught us, the masses will have nothing to lose. The political elite will have everything to lose. All of us must put the national interest over and above our personal interests, he advised.
Our political frustrations, he said, cannot be an excuse to sponsor people to sabotage the economy, break pipelines and resort to carrying arms to intimidate the state, adding that the Nigerian state cannot be intimidated.
He called on all to stand by President Buhari in his resolve that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, stating emphatically, “no part will be allowed to break away. We must stand together as the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God does not make mistakes.”
The amalgamation of 1914, he continued, was ordained by God. “It cannot be questioned by man.
I reaffirm my faith and I ask you to reaffirm your faith. Together, we must rebuild this country as the giant of Africa and one that is destined to provide leadership for the black race.”
“We the people of Edo State salute the huge sacrifices made by the officers and men of the Armed Forces and we salute the leadership of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”
He said if the previous government had saved for the rainy day and not allegedly emptied the treasury, the situation faced by the nation today would have been different.
“However, we are not here to lament the mistakes of yesterday but to celebrate the bold and imaginative steps of the current government. I am encouraged by the determination of the President to reposition Nigeria on the path of greatness. This hardship we face now is temporary, he noted.”
Oshiomhole took a swipe at his opponents: “It is now on record that Edo State, in spite of the machinations of our opponents and hostile neighbors, all the weapons they fashioned to make the elections impossible were neutralized.
He congratulated the State Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on his recent electoral victory.
“You do not carry the blood of anyone on your hands. We must continue this tradition and have faith in the power of the PVC”
“I appeal to our Youth Corps members, things are challenging now, but we must have faith in our country,” he said.
