Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that it is unjust to solely attribute the desire to secede from Nigeria to the Igbo ethnic group. He emphasized that all three principal ethnic nationalities in the country have, at various points, sought to dissolve the unity of Nigeria through secessionist efforts.
Obasanjo expressed his dismay at perceptions suggesting that no individual from the Igbo community could ascend to the presidency, particularly due to the involvement of some Igbo individuals in the violent coup of January 15, 1966, which disrupted the First Republic.
He pointed out that there have been attempts at secession from individuals across different regions of Nigeria. This statement was made during his engagement with a 20-member delegation from the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. The elder statesman reminisced about a significant movement in the northern region aimed at detaching itself from Nigeria, which he referred to as the vehicle of Araba.
“I believe we all need to reconsider our positions in Nigeria,” he remarked. “It pains me deeply when I hear assertions that an Igbo person cannot hold the office of President because of past secession actions. This notion is absurd. Every region in Nigeria has contemplated secession. What does ‘Araba’ represent in the North? The Northern region contemplated a division of Nigeria, as confirmed by my good friend, Ahmed Jooda.”
According to Daily Post, he questioned the basis of labeling actions as treasonable offenses, highlighting that no individual can claim superiority over another regarding these actions. “Let us unite and collectively strive to build our nation,” he urged.
Additionally, Obasanjo acknowledged that many Nigerians resonate with the concerns articulated by the National League of Democrats. He expressed his willingness to support the organization, provided it embraces a national perspective rather than a narrow provincial or regional focus.
