Strident calls went to Nigerians across the country again on Sunday for the unity of Nigeria as the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saa’ad Abubakar; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, appealed to leaders to drop all impediments to national cooperation.
Aregbesola, who hosted the eminent traditional rulers, including the Emir of Zauzau, Dr. Shehu Idris, and Osun State royal fathers to a reception at the Government House, Osogbo, said since there is no other country to be called their own, Nigerians have a duty to ensure the continued corporate existence for its progress.
Specifically, Aregbesola called on leaders in all sectors to be wary of factors that could hold Nigeria down as a country, saying the country could be greater than its present state in the comity of nations.
The governor, who has been a target of campaign of championing a secessionist agenda because of his belief in regional integration, said: “I want to seize the opportunity of this visit to call to all of us political leaders, spiritual leaders, military leaders and traditional leaders to drop whatever it is that is beclouding our focus to build a virile, united, people-serving and developing country that we shall be proud of.
“I commend the sacrifice and commitment of these leaders for all of us. Nigeria is a star in Africa.
“We all must rally round that focus, that potential to make it not just a mere big nation but a nation that is big in population, big in size and big charting a course for all the Black people of the world.”
Saying that the country could be greater, Aregbesola thanked traditional rulers for showing the way, adding that with the presence of the Emir of Kano despite the growing insurgency in the northern part of the country, the royal father had indicated that no sacrifice could be too much to achieve the unity of the country.
He said: “We can be great. Our traditional rulers are already showing us the path to greatness.
“Unity is the basis of progress. Let all of us come together and work towards the progress, development and peace of our nation.”
Calling on the leaders to ensure stability, Aregbesola said for a country desirous of progress and greatness, leaders must be ready to account for whatever becomes of it, adding: “We have no other country we can call our own.
“Nigeria is ours. And willy-nilly, we will be accountable for what becomes of it.
“It is our desire for our nation to be as great as other nations that are great. And for the greatness to happen, there must be stability.
“A major implication of this is the fact that today, there are some issues in the core of the North, particularly Kano.
“So, if the Emir of Kano would leave the instability there, take the time to visit us here at this moment, it is a major sacrifice that must be recognised.”
Idris said that for centuries, the traditional rulers had provided a way to promote unity among the ethnic communities within the country by visiting themselves and encouraging their subjects to do the same.
Idris said: “We have for centuries charted a course in the promotion of unity and progress of the country by visiting ourselves in our respective domains and we also encourage our subjects to follow suit.
“With this, we hope that our visit will foster unity and harmony in the country.”
The Sultan, Bayero, who backed the Emir of Zauzau’s speech, said the unity of Nigeria was not negotiable.
The governor later presented gifts which included the flags, anthem and broaches of Osun State to the eminent traditional rulers while Bayero and Abubakar also reciprocated by handing over gifts to the governor.