Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the exclusion of Igbo candidates from Nigeria’s presidency due to the region’s past secession efforts, labeling such views as unjust. His remarks come amid ongoing debates about national unity and political inclusivity in Nigeria.
During a meeting with the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of fairness and unity in Nigeria’s political landscape. He pointed out that secessionist movements were not exclusive to the Igbo people and that other ethnic groups in Nigeria had also considered breaking away from the country.
He referenced the Northern region’s “Araba” movement as an example of the Hausa/Fulani’s past secessionist attempts, challenging the notion that only the Igbo are judged for their role in the Biafran secession. Obasanjo shared that his friend, Ahmed Jooda, had been involved in the “Araba” plot.
“It is heartbreaking when people say that an Igbo man cannot be president because of the Biafran secession. There is no ethnic group in Nigeria that hasn’t contemplated secession,” Obasanjo stated passionately.
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Obasanjo Rejects Igbo Expulsion: “We Own This Country Together
He further questioned the moral basis for excluding the Igbo, noting that no ethnic group can claim moral superiority. “What is treasonable felony? No ethnic group is guilt-free. We must come together and build a united Nigeria,” he concluded.
Obasanjo’s defense of Igbo presidency rights reinforces the ongoing call for equal representation of all regions in Nigeria’s leadership, regardless of their historical challenges. His remarks also underscore the need for national unity and political inclusiveness to move the country forward.