Nigeria cannot afford another civil war, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.
He urged the political class to preserve the country’s unity through patriotic acts.
They must also prevent a repeat of the circumstances that took the nation through the 1967 to 1970 civil war, the president said.
He spoke when he hosted former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President expressed hope that Nigeria would remain one.
The Forum of State Chairmen of the Defunct CPC assured the President that it would use its platform to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The forum said the defunct party had preserved its structure across the country.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, President Buhari noted that the passion and zeal for improving the livelihood of Nigerians, which culminated in the creation of the CPC had not dwindled.
He urged political leaders to stay focused and uphold the ultimate objective of promoting the country’s interests.
“We are Nigerians. God willing, we remain Nigerians, and Nigeria shall remain one,” the President said.
According to him, a repeat of the self-centeredness that led to the loss of about a million lives between 1967-1970 must not be allowed.
The President said: “Our main objective is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are human beings. We have our weaknesses, but I can assure you that the patriotism in us is hard-earned.
Nigeria can’t afford another civil war, Buhari tells politicians
•President preaches unity
Nigeria cannot afford another civil war, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.
He urged the political class to preserve the country’s unity through patriotic acts.
They must also prevent a repeat of the circumstances that took the nation through the 1967 to 1970 civil war, the president said.
He spoke when he hosted former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President expressed hope that Nigeria would remain one.
The Forum of State Chairmen of the Defunct CPC assured the President that it would use its platform to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The forum said the defunct party had preserved its structure across the country.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, President Buhari noted that the passion and zeal for improving the livelihood of Nigerians, which culminated in the creation of the CPC had not dwindled.
He urged political leaders to stay focused and uphold the ultimate objective of promoting the country’s interests.
“We are Nigerians. God willing, we remain Nigerians, and Nigeria shall remain one,” the President said.
According to him, a repeat of the self-centeredness that led to the loss of about a million lives between 1967-1970 must not be allowed.
The President said: “Our main objective is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are human beings. We have our weaknesses, but I can assure you that the patriotism in us is hard-earned.
“We have gone through all the troubles from 15th of January 1966 to date. You know what I mean by this.
“We killed a million of ourselves to keep this country together.
“I don’t think there can be any practical experience more than that.
“We are Nigerians. God willing we remain Nigerians and Nigeria will remain one.”
President Buhari urged all members of the defunct CPC and political leaders to always be mindful of the larger picture by working towards preserving the unity, peace and integrity of the nation.
He thanked the former chairmen of the party, which was merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) for always highlighting the achievements of the government.
“I commend members of this forum and all members of the legacy party-CPC, for their continued dedication to the ideals of democratic governance that we all believed in.
“The doggedness with which we pursued our vision and goals that culminated into the success we recorded remain like bright stars in the history of our dear nation,” he added.
Describing the President as the “Patriarch of the CPC’’, the Chairman of the Forum and former Chairman of the party in Niger State, Umar Shuaibu, said the party had maintained all its structures across the country.
He assured President Buhari of their loyalty, especially in the forthcoming elections.
Shuaibu commended the President for providing strong leadership over the years, particularly in remaining balanced, fair and above board in electoral issues.
“Before you, the opposition was arrested and maltreated, but it is no longer so,” he said.
“You did not deny them what they denied you when they were in power.”