Ahead of the commencement of the upcoming National Conference, a health and safety expert and former Group General Manager, Special Projects Division of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Edward OsigbemeAkhigbe, has thrown his weight behind the Federal Government, FG, saying “The unity of Nigeria basically should not be negotiated’’.
Akhigbe, who stated this recently while speaking to journalists in Abuja on issues that will make the conference a success, stated that ethnic group should be effectively represented by at least one person per each identified and documented nationalities.
Enunciating that ‘‘Some of us we would not like the idea of this country being fragmented. What I would recommend to Nigerians is to see how we should work out how to oil the rough edges that is in between us to enable us to take Nigeria to the next level. I think there is enough room for everybody to express himself and take the country up to be among the world’s leading nations in the next few years if we would agree to work together. This is an opportunity to discuss that and too come out with all sincerity. But if we close our mind at the conference, definitely we are not going to achieve anything”.
Akhigbe added that for 100 years Nigerians have lived as a country no matter what issues that has come up during the period. “We have lived and mingled throughout the century to such an extent that we should allow peace to reign, sincerity to prevail, reduce greed and make positive criticism. This is the period to think about the country rather than ourselves, tribes, ethnicity and religion. If this is achieved, then you will find out that most of our problems we are experiencing now will be eliminated”.