Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken out against blaming the Igbo people alone for attempting to secede from Nigeria.
He emphasized that all three major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria have, at some point, considered secession.
Obasanjo expressed his frustration with those who argue that an Igbo person cannot become Nigeria’s President due to their involvement in the January 15, 1966, coup.
Obasanjo made these remarks while addressing a delegation of the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on October 22.
“I think all of us in Nigeria have to rethink… It bleeds my heart when people say because the Igbo had carried out a secession, an Igbo man cannot be the president of Nigeria,”
Obasanjo stated. “I say what nonsense? There is no section of Nigeria that has not planned a secession. What is ‘Araba’ in the North? The North planned to break up Nigeria. Ahmed Jooda, a very good friend of mine, said that.”
He further emphasized, “What is a treasonable felony? So, who among us can say I am better than the other? None! So, let us put our heads together and build a country together.”
