Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the world will forget Nigeria if its citizens allow the country to be balkanized.
Jonathan said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents shortly after his brief meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said he had always stood for a united Nigeria not because of its oil wealth, but because of the greatness of its human resource and the uniqueness of its diversity.
He said both qualities stand the country out.
The former President said he was not the only one suing for peace in the Niger Delta and in other parts of the country, as all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality are with him.
Jonathan said: “You see, it is not just about me, but all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
“We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country because those of you, who were here when I was here, followed my thoughts.
“The emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasise that Nigeria is great.
“It is not because of oil.
“So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria, but nobody notices them.
“We are great because of our size, the human resources that we have, the diversity we have, and so, if we balkanize the country into small components, we will all be forgotten by the world.
“That has been my focal position.
“And without peace, you can never reap development anywhere in the world.
“So, we are all working collectively to see that these issues are resolved.”
Jonathan to Nigerians after meeting with Buhari: World will forget us if we break up
