Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that it is unjust to place the blame solely on the Igbo ethnic group for their attempts to secede from Nigeria, emphasizing that all three major ethnic nationalities in the country have, at various points, sought to break away.
The ex-leader expressed his dismay at the notion that no Igbo individual could ever ascend to the presidency due to the ethnic group’s role in the violent coup of January 15, 1966, which disrupted the First Republic.
Speaking during a meeting with a 20-member delegation from the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he highlighted that secessionist sentiments have been present in multiple regions of Nigeria.
Obasanjo recalled a significant push for secession from the North, referencing a movement known as “Araba.” He stated, “It is essential for all Nigerians to rethink our perspectives. It pains me when people assert that because the Igbo attempted secession, no Igbo person should become Nigeria’s president. That is simply absurd.”
He continued, “Every region in Nigeria has contemplated secession at some point. What about ‘Araba’ in the North? The North too considered breaking away. So, who among us can claim superiority? The answer is none. We must unite and collaboratively build our nation.”
Furthermore, Obasanjo acknowledged that many Nigerians resonate with the concerns raised by the National League of Democrats. He expressed his willingness to support the organization, provided it adopts a national focus rather than a regional or provincial identity.
