President Muhammadu Buhari has asked those agitating for the state of Biafra to “forget it”.
Buhari said this when he hosted over 100 National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members who are serving in his local government, Daura, in Katsina State.
The President, who expressed gratitude to former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, for creating the NYSC in 1973, called on the youth corps members to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
To the 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 Cameroons 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 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.”
Buhari said the NYSC has promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity of Nigeria.
Egbewumi Adebolu, corps liaison officer in Daura, thanked the president for the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.
He said the youths strongly believed in the programme of the current administration to reduce unemployment and create jobs for more Nigerians.
Adebolu also thanked the President for his personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community for Salah celebration.