It is alright for citizens to call for restructuring and true federalism, but calls for secession is not acceptable – Lai Mohammed

Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed has said that calls for secession in the country is an unacceptable demand. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Bauchi on Thursday May 20, the Minister stated that while it is alright for citizens to call for restructuring and true federalism, the call for secession in certain quarters is not acceptable. 

Lai also stated that the challenges we have today as a nation, can and will be surmounted. He said; 

“WHILE IT IS ALRIGHT FOR CITIZENS TO CALL FOR RESTRUCTURING AND TRUE FEDERALISM, WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IS THE CALL IN CERTAIN QUARTERS FOR SECESSION. 

“WHATEVER CHALLENGES WE HAVE TODAY AS A NATION, CAN AND WILL BE SURMOUNTED. IN FACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD SET IN MOTION THE NECESSARY MACHINERY TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGE OF INSECURITY.

“WE SHOULD THEREFORE NOT ALLOW TODAY’S CHALLENGES, WHETHER IN THE AREA OF ECONOMY OR SECURITY, TO JEOPARDISE OUR UNITY.

“THAT TASK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE URGENT THAN NOW AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF DISCORDANT VOICES IN THE COUNTRY AND CALLS FOR SEPARATION. 

“I SEE NIPR AS A CAPABLE PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT TO DOUSE THE TENSION IN THE LAND AND BEAT THE DRUM OF UNITY RATHER THAN THE DRUM OF WAR.

“MAY I ALSO REPEAT MY CALL TO NIPR TO RAISE VOICE AGAINST THOSE FANNING THE EMBERS OF DISUNITY AND DISCORD IN THE COUNTRY. WITHOUT A COUNTRY THAT IS PEACEFUL AND SECURED, THERE CAN BE NO DEVELOPMENT.

“THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RETURN PEACE AND SECURITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.”