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| Tofa |
Presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the aborted third republic and founding member of the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP), Alhaji Bashir Tofa, yesterday expressed fear of possible disintegration of the Nigerian nation on account of the spate of bloody conflicts in parts of the north and other security issues threatening its corporate existence.
Alhaji Tofa, who was ANPP’s elders’ committee chairman, lamented the state of insecurity in the country, especially the bloody gun and bomb attacks in parts of the country, which to him constitute serious threat to the country’s progress and the peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian people.
He spoke with National Mirror in Kano, during which he highlighted some of the factors that have contributed in promoting conflict in the country to include poverty, growing unemployment, especially among the nation’s graduates, adding that they all joined to create an atmosphere of uncertainty.
The elder statesman also berated the government, traditional, religious and political leaders for what he described as their insensitivity to the security challenges confronting the nation.
In the opinion of Tofa, these categories of leaders have not done enough to help this country out of its present predicament.
In his words: “I have my fear that what is happening in the country now may be a prelude to the country’s disintegration, we have fought a war in this country in the late 60s when the South-East wanted to secede because they felt they were not being justly treated, there was resentment in the region, but today the resentment is all over the country, everybody is angry about the way things are going, especially the way government is being run.”
“Government is not functioning properly, opportunities are not there to enhance commercial and business activities; and we keep going backward. So the fear of disintegration of the country is high and I entertain that fear too that if we don’t do something quickly and positively, this country may end up splitting into different components.”
The northern leader also noted with concern that the lack of commitment by stakeholders and government is systematically paving way for the country to break up.
“So, what is happening is enough to bring about fear that if we do not do something now, and quickly too, the situation might lead to the disintegration of the country and that will be very serious.
“This country cannot afford to separate, we are so intertwined now with one another and we have people who are either born or have lived outside their ancestral homes for decades.”
In the opinion of Tofa, these categories of leaders have not done enough to help this country out of its present predicament.
In his words: “I have my fear that what is happening in the country now may be a prelude to the country’s disintegration, we have fought a war in this country in the late 60s when the South-East wanted to secede because they felt they were not being justly treated, there was resentment in the region, but today the resentment is all over the country, everybody is angry about the way things are going, especially the way government is being run.”
“Government is not functioning properly, opportunities are not there to enhance commercial and business activities; and we keep going backward. So the fear of disintegration of the country is high and I entertain that fear too that if we don’t do something quickly and positively, this country may end up splitting into different components.”
The northern leader also noted with concern that the lack of commitment by stakeholders and government is systematically paving way for the country to break up.
“So, what is happening is enough to bring about fear that if we do not do something now, and quickly too, the situation might lead to the disintegration of the country and that will be very serious.
“This country cannot afford to separate, we are so intertwined now with one another and we have people who are either born or have lived outside their ancestral homes for decades.”
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