Iwuanyanwu: No need for Ohanaeze – Simon Ekpa-led BRGIE

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that no ethnic group should be punished for secessionist tendencies, as every region in Nigeria has, at one time or another, contemplated breaking away. He spoke on Tuesday while hosting members of the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo
No section of Nigeria has not planned secession – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that no ethnic group should be punished for secessionist tendencies, as every region in Nigeria has, at one time or another, contemplated breaking away.

He spoke on Tuesday while hosting members of the League of Northern Democrats, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said: “I think all of us in Nigeria have to rethink. It bleeds my heart when people say because the Igbos had carried out secession, an Igbo man cannot be the president of Nigeria. I say what nonsense? There is no section of Nigeria that has not planned secession.”

The former president argued that the foundational problem plaguing Nigeria is regionalism, pointing out that it has deepened the divide among Nigerians and delayed the country’s progress.

Obasanjo went on to question the emphasis on regional leadership and called for a shift in mindset towards national unity.

“One of the things I always question myself about is, why should my being a proud Yoruba man be in the way of my being a Nigerian? I could have been born in Sokoto or Maiduguri, and I would still be a Nigerian. My being Yoruba should not be an enemy of my being Nigerian,” he said.

The former president lamented Nigeria’s lost potential on the global stage, stating that while the country was once regarded as a “giant in the sun,” it had since fallen short of expectations.

“At independence, the world was talking about Nigeria as the giant not just in Africa but in the sun. We have disappointed ourselves, Africa, the black race, and the world. That is the truth,” Obasanjo declared.

He urged Nigerians to stop focusing on regional or religious affiliations when selecting leaders, arguing that competence and integrity should be the top priorities.

“If we do not get the best man for the job, it doesn’t matter where he comes from, we are deceiving ourselves,” he added.

No section of Nigeria has not planned secession – Obasanjo

President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has approved N95 billion for the rehabilitation of over 16 Kano dams to boost irrigation farming and the construction of the State Eastern Bypass Road, which will connect the southern region to the city. In a statement, the newly appointed Executive Director of Finance of the Hadejia River Basin Development Authority,
Tinubu Approves N95Bn for Kano dams rehabilitation, construction of Eastern Bypass Road

President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has approved N95 billion for the rehabilitation of over 16 Kano dams to boost irrigation farming and the construction of the State Eastern Bypass Road, which will connect the southern region to the city.

In a statement, the newly appointed Executive Director of Finance of the Hadejia River Basin Development Authority, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, announced that a technical committee has already been inaugurated to evaluate the dams.

He said: “Without mincing words, the inauguration of the technical committee to evaluate the Kano dams, including the Challawa Gorge Dam and Tiga Dam, among others, will enhance irrigation and improve agricultural productivity. This aligns with the efforts of the Hon. Minister Joseph Utsev to maximize these facilities in Kano.”

“Similarly, the appropriation of N95 billion for the rehabilitation of dams in Kano, secured by Senator Kawu Sumaila from the southern part of the state, underscores the commendable efforts of Mr President.

“The kickoff of the North West Development Commission, driven by the support and insistence of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, will also bring prosperity to the region, demonstrating the administration’s dedication to the Kano people and the North West as a whole.”

Kwankwaso assured President Tinubu that his appointment as Director has “energized our collective desire to strive for the delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring a clear path for Mr. President in Kano and the North by 2027.”

He expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity, extending his appreciation to the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullah Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Hon. Abba Bichi, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee in the House, and other well-wishers for their support.

“Our appointment at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority is an honor for the Kano people and members of the All Progressives Congress. It reflects the President’s positive vision for our state and the nation at large,” Kwankwaso stated.

He further emphasized the competence of the leadership team, saying: “The caliber of individuals assembled, including Chairman Mamman Dau Aliyu, Managing Director Engineer Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Tijjani Musa Isa, Hajiya Zainab Gamawa, Baffa Dandatti, and myself, ensures a formidable team dedicated to advancing the aspirations of President Bola Tinubu.”

Kwankwaso also highlighted the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development:

“The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s determination to complete the Kano to Kaduna and Abuja expressway, along with the highly anticipated Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, slated for completion in 2025, further underscores the President’s genuine commitment to Kano and the North,” he assured.

Tinubu Approves N95Bn for Kano dams rehabilitation, construction of Eastern Bypass Road

The Anambra State Police Command said it has begun the search for kidnappers that abducted no fewer than three persons…