The unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, hence agitators of the break-up of the country are urged to drop such agenda and proffer solutions to whatever they might have identified as problems necessitating their agitations.
This was the remark of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade ll on Friday while playing host to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanem CFR’s delegation on congratulatory visit to the monarch at his Alarere residence.
Oba Balogun, who said he had all along his life been in unity with fellow Nigerians recalled that he was born at a railway station in Lalupon, on the outskirts of Ibadan in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State and he began interaction with Northerners right from his birth.
“When people talk of Nigeria unity, I am already united with my fellow Nigerians.” said Oba Balogun.
“My father was a produce merchant and had a lot of Northern customers together with whom I related with. I studied Holy Quran with their children and there was no any form of discrimination against anybody. The language we grew up to know and speak was oneness and when I went to the United Kingdom to study, I made friends with the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, the late Alhaji Balarabe Musa and our relationship existed till they all departed this world.”
The delegation led by Alhaji Mai Mele Abatcha, the Mai Kanuribe of Lagos presented the congratulatory letter signed by Shehu of Borno in which the foremost monarch said “the Yoruba and Kanuri share common ancestral affinity, traditions and culture since time immemorial and we shall continue to sustain the relationship”.
Recalling the antecedents of Olubadan, the head of Kanuri Kingdom noted that “it is my believe that as former Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Your Imperial Majesty would use your past experiences and good leadership qualities to promote peace, tolerance, unity and greater understanding among all our subjects irrespective of religion, tribe or gender”.
Samson Abiodun
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