Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Monday, kicked against the clamour for a sovereign Yoruba Nation, saying he has only one passport.
Speaking on Monday, the governor noted that there is strength in number and urged over 200 million Nigerians to utilise the numerical strength and the beauty of diversity of the West African nation to foster economic prosperity and political stability.
He, however, stressed that it is important for fairness and equity to take their rightful places in the governance of the country so that no group is aggrieved or feels sidelined in the running of Nigeria.
Lately, secessionist calls have increased across the country especially in Southern Nigeria. From the Indigenous People of Biafra to agitators of Yoruba Nation, amongst others, the separatist calls rise.
IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu; former Niger Delta Militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo; and Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho; have been at the forefront of the secessionist agitation in the country.
Igboho recently led Yoruba nation rallies in the South-West states of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, amongst others.
But Sanwo-Olu, who is one of the six governors in the South-West geopolitical zone, said he is going nowhere, adding that he remains committed to one united and prosperous Nigeria where fairness and equal distribution of resources is the order of the day.
He said, “We are talking about separatists. I have only one passport, there is nowhere I am going. We are here, we cannot continue to gloss over it and talk about we want to break away. Even if any breakaway will start, it will end on a table, so, let’s create that table amongst ourselves and start talking.
“If we understand that there are different strengths in the room, let equity and fairness come into play, let’s understand what are the things you have that is bothering you and what are the things you don’t have that you want to have and let’s be able to resolve it.
“It is not by saying that we want to go (our separate ways). Oduduwa nation, when they come, they will now realise that even Egba, Ijebu and Ekiti, they also want to break away, they will never see an end to that because every clan and every race will also want something and that is where it is difficult.
“There is strength in number, let us utilise that strength and be able to work for all of us. It is when it is not working and it is perceived as nepotism, that is when people agitate. If we are fair and have a seat for everyone, we can take this country forward. Nobody wants a war. We never know how a war will end. Who is going to take us? Over 200 million people? Please, let’s be sincere and be real with ourselves.”
