Buhari to Biafra agitators: Stop wasting your time

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, told those agitating for a Biafran nation to forget the idea.
He said since over two million Nigerians died during the civil war to stop the birth of the Biafran Republic, any idea to resuscitate secessionist plot, 46 years after the end of the Nigerian Civil War, will not see the light of the day.
The war, which started on July 6, 1967, ended on January 15, 1970.
Buhari spoke when he received more than 100 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State in his Daura residence.
Speaking specifically to corps members from South-East 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 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 said.
He urged youths to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.
He also urged the 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.
Buhari praised the vision of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), in setting up the NYSC scheme in 1973.
According to him, the scheme has creditably promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity 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.’’
In his remarks, Mr Egbewumi Adebolu, the Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, thanked the President for the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.
He said the youth strongly believed in the programme of the President to reduce unemployment and create jobs for more Nigerians.
Adebolu thanked the President for his personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community for Sallah celebration.