Ibrahim Babangida: Disintegration is not an option for Nigeria

Eminent Nigerians yesterday expressed concern over the growing agitation for autonomy by the federating ethnic units.

They voiced their concern during the public presentation of the Blueprint Newspapers held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida , in his lecture, “The challenges of growth and development in a multi-cultural society,” acknowledged lack of ideological consensus among the political elite needed to mobilise the people to significantly transform their lives, he, however, said disintegration was not an option.

Babangida said: “We have no option, but to face the fact that our diversity is not going to disappear and disintegration is not an option that Nigeria and its people can afford.

“In the first place, the historical association among the different communities currently in Nigeria predated the creation of the country. Consequently, we have for long been intertwined by criss-crossing political, cultural and economic ties that cannot be untangled.

“Secondly, contemporary global trends point to the fact that the future belongs to big nations with large populations that can stand on their own in the international community.

“China and India readily come to mind as good examples of big and diverse nations that are attending to the twin challenges of development and nation-building successfully in an integrated and systematic manner.”

While pointing out that the diversity of the Nigerian state does not constitute an encumbrance to development, Babangida, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, lamented that the political elite had exploited it to their narrow political advantage. “The most fundamental characteristic of the Nigerian nation is its diversity. The country, like many others, is constituted in a complex amalgam of cultures, ethnic identities, religious adherences and regional backgrounds.

“I must, however, hasten to say that on its own, diversity and regional background is not a problem, but only becomes so when it is mobilized to serve various political purposes by the elite. The resultant fragmentation had, and continued to have very grave consequences for the on-going process of nation-building,’’ he said.

Another Special Guest, former vice-president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was represented by Prof Laz Ekwueme, cautioned that agitation for self-determination should not be misconstrued as the desires of certain ethnic nationalities for the disintegration of Nigeria.

He warned those in political authority not to neglect issues that would promote multi-cultural harmony among ethnic nationalities in the country. “Amidst the economic and political challenges that confront us as a nation, Nigerians have at one time or the other, been inundated with calls from ethnic groups for self-determination. While it is a dream of every Nigerian to have transparent governance that would place premium on the common good of the majority, Nigerian leaders should not misinterpret the present rancour for a call to disintegrate. Like every nation with multi-cultural setting, Nigeria is daily faced with the complex task of balancing its development vision among its diverse ethnic groups.

While it is a fact that our multi-cultural colouration may serve as a platform for strength; it may turn the country into a nightmare of crises, if our nation’s leaders continue to neglect issues that promote multi-cultural harmony among ethnic nationalities.

“Sincerity of purpose and political will by government, coupled with the determination to create a symphony of mutual trust among ethnic groups, remain the means of triumphing over our present challenges,’’ Ekwueme said. In his welcome address, Chairman of Blueprint Newspapers Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, assured that the newspaper would not renege on its mission to promote the development and unity of the country.” There was no other reason for floating this paper than the unity and development of this country,’’ he said.