Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it- Buhari tells S/Eastern corps members
Wed Sep 14, 2016 11:32:am National
1.9K By Buchi Obichie
Whilst receiving more than 100 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
members serving in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina on Tuesday,
President Muhammadu Buhari urged those from the South East to tell
their colleagues agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra to forget
about it; even as he enjoined them to remain focused in life, pursue
their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and
disintegration of Nigeria.
The President received the Corps members at his Daura residence, and his comments were disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. The President urged the visiting Corps members to make Nigeria great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity. He pledged his unalloyed commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.
Praising the vision of former President Yakubu Gowon who set up the NYSC scheme in 1973, President Buhari specially recognised those corps members from the Niger Delta and South-Eastern states serving in Daura.
He said, "I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that.''
Speaking specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states, the President said: "tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it.''
"As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the north and the east to the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.
"I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in which at least two million Nigerians were killed.
"We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra not because of money or oil, because oil was not a critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.
"So if leaderships at various levels failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.
"So, please tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country. It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources.
"Those who work hard will earn a respectable living. I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country.''
The President had made a personal sallah donation of Cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community.
The President received the Corps members at his Daura residence, and his comments were disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. The President urged the visiting Corps members to make Nigeria great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity. He pledged his unalloyed commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.
Praising the vision of former President Yakubu Gowon who set up the NYSC scheme in 1973, President Buhari specially recognised those corps members from the Niger Delta and South-Eastern states serving in Daura.
He said, "I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that.''
Speaking specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states, the President said: "tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it.''
"As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the north and the east to the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.
"I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in which at least two million Nigerians were killed.
"We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra not because of money or oil, because oil was not a critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.
"So if leaderships at various levels failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.
"So, please tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country. It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources.
"Those who work hard will earn a respectable living. I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country.''
The President had made a personal sallah donation of Cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community.
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