Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned against Nigeria’s break-up.
Osinbajo said Nigeria would lose more if the country break-up.
The Vice President, who spoke at the National Social Cohesion Dialogue in Abuja yesterday, said there are “more opportunities for prosperity” if Nigeria remains united.
He expressed hope that the country would remain united despite the activities of those calling for secession.
According to Osinbajo: “All Nigerians have a constitutional right to live, work and enjoy their lives in peace and safety under the law. The classification of Nigerians as “indigenes” and “non-indigenes” is a form of apartheid and contradicts our declared aspirations towards equality and unity.
“This is why when we launched our Social Investment Programmes, the eligible beneficiaries were selected based on their states of residence and none was discriminated against on any basis.
“Our destinies have become so interlinked as to be inseparable. This is why this administration is investing heavily in transportation infrastructure – road, rail, sea and river ports – to reduce the distances between our people and link localities to markets and enable trade, travel and tourism.
“Nigeria will be a great loser if we were to break up; when we see the greatest economic advantage to our size about to come to life. In short, staying together as a collective affords each of our communities far more opportunities for prosperity than they would have if they went their separate ways.”
Nigerians like Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Sunday Igboho, Yoruba Nation freedom fighter, have been agitating for Nigeria’s break-up.
While Kanu is under the custody agreement of the Department of State Services, DSS, Igboho is held by security operatives in Benin Republic.