The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has appealed to Nigerians not to shun promoters of secession and those that want to dismember Nigeria.
According to him, this was because those who support separation and secession would be the first to run away should hostilities break out due to their moves.
The minister went further to urge the Nigerians not to listen to them as many of them have about four passports of other countries.
Mohammed, who spoke on Sunday in Lagos when he appeared on Bond FM radio programme, ‘Ibi Abasede’, disclosed that the Federal Government is working hard to improve national security and prevent secession tendencies.
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Speaking on issues around security, Mohammed said the Federal Government’s efforts in that respect necessitated the Town Hall meeting on security held on April 8 in Kaduna.
According to him, the meeting brought stakeholders together to chart a way forward.
Mohammed said recommendations from the meeting, which had the theme, ‘Setting benchmarks for enhanced security and national unity in Nigeria’, would be presented to the Federal Executive Council and state governors on Wednesday and Thursday.
He pointed out that what united Nigeria was more important than those issues threatening its continued existence.
‘We were moved by security issues around the country and called for a meeting of all relevant stakeholders on April 8 in Kaduna.
‘That we have ethnicity issues is not new. Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Boko Haram and farmer-herders clashes are not new; all we must do is to look for the way forward.
‘We are aware of them, the government is working. Secession is not the way out of our challenges. You don’t cure headache by beheading the patient.
‘The things that unite us in Nigeria are more than what separate us,’ he said.
The minister said the stakeholders at the Town Hall meeting in Kaduna came up with some recommendations to further secure and unite the country toward progress.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK