Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria’s unity, like every other relationship, is negotiable which can always be negotiated.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), in the 2019 General Election, made the remark at the launch of a book, titled: “Remaking Nigeria: sixty years, sixty voices,” a compendium of sixty essays written by sixty different authors from different sectors, which treated various aspects of Nigeria’s existence, while also questioning the values the country has passed through since independence.
Speaking as the chairman of the event – during which he launched the book for N2 million – the former VP said it was “amusing” to hear people declare Nigeria’s unity as fixed, yet they do everything to “destroy the (nation’s) fragile unity,” he said.
The editor of the book, Chido Onumah, said the book was “a product of eleven years of planning” initially conceived in 2010, during the country’s 50th year of independence, but it was published after its “third missionary” journey. He said the focus was to foster “national dialogue” towards “a viable union”.
Also speaking at the event was the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, who said every nation strives towards getting better, and Nigeria cannot be an exception.
The launch also featured a panel discussion where some of the articles in the book as they relate to the Nigerian reality were discussed.
The discussants were consistent with their calls for redefining Nigeria through a systemic and deliberate change in the attitude of Nigerians toward their country. The panelists included Amina Salihu, Tope Fasua, Dike Chukwumerije, Chris Ngwodo, Mojeed Dahiru and Ahmadu Shehu.
Also present at the event were the Editor-in-chief of 21st Century Chronicle,
Mahmud Jega, who reviewed the book; Nigeria’s former ambassador to Ethiopia,
Nkoyo Toyo, and the permanent representative to the African Union, (AU).
Others were the CEO of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), Alero Ayida-Otobo, and former senate president and secretary to the government of the federation, Anyim Pius Anyim as well as other authors in the book.
