Nigeria must remain one- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sent a message to some restive groups – they should forget about Nigeria breaking up, The Nation reports.The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)have been attacking oil facilities. The Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Emancipation of Biafra (MASSOB) have been pushing for a Biafra State, independent of Nigeria. But, Buhari insists that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is also the director of the separatist and illegal Radio Biafra, is on trial for alleged treason, among other charges. The president
was emphatic yesterday that anybody seeking the break-up of the country should perish the thought.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents paid him an Eid-el-Fitri homage.

The President said the slogan in the 1970s, “Go On With One Nigeria” (GOWON), is very apt now as keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done”.

He urged the militants to give peace a chance.

Noting that there is a lot of improvement on security in the Northeast, Buhari said the attention has now shifted to the Niger Delta.

He said: “On security, we have made a lot of improvement. There is improvement in the battle against Boko Haram. We are now concentrating on the militants to know how many of them in terms of groupings, leadership and plead with them to try and give Nigeria a chance.

“I assure them that the saying by Gen. Yakubu Gowon (a former Head of State) that ‘to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done is still relevant.  In those days, we never thought of oil, all we were concerned about was one Nigeria. So, please pass this on to the militants – that one Nigeria is not for negotiation and they had better accept it.

“The Nigerian Constitution is clear as to what they should get and I assure them there will be justice.”

Buhari urged those with plenty of money which does not belong to them to negotiate and return it in peace.

“So that both they and us will be in peace; otherwise, we will continue to look for it,” the President added