Buhari reiterates commitment to maintain ‘One Nigeria’

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of his administration keep Nigeria as a unified country. This came after efforts by some identified secessionist groups to create a Sovereign Biafra state. He therefore urged them to have a rethink.

The President said this at a meeting with the Council of South-East Traditional Rulers at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

This was contained in a statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, where the President warned that the question of having another country out of Nigeria is a misplaced priority.

“The question of having another country out of Nigeria is going to be very difficult.

“From 1914, we have more than 200 cultures living with one another. God had endowed this country with natural resources and talented people.

“We should concentrate on these and be very productive,” he stated.

He further addressed specific issues raised by the traditional rulers, by assuring them that South-East would also benefit from the new railway architecture being put in place by his administration.

On their request for more representation for the South-East in his government, Buhari said that he was “very conscious of the sensitivities of the South East”, on account of which, he gave the region’s four out of five states senior ranking ministers in the federal cabinet.

He appreciated the good work of the ministers from the region in the federal government, saying that “they are doing very well for the country”.

He appealed to the traditional rulers from the South East to persuade their people to give his government a chance and to continue to serve as beacons of culture and traditions of their people.

The president further assured the delegation that kidnapping and cattle rustling, which he described as “unfortunate” would be the government’s next target “now that we have managed to calm down the North-East”.

The Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr Eberechi Dick, in his speech made request for roads and other projects, among other issues. He also assured the President of their support for his leadership and programmes.