* We can still achieve unity, Umahi believes
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he doesn’t believe Nigerian unity is attainable under President Muhammadu Buhari-led government due to its systemic failure.
Soyinka said this in Abuja on Saturday at the book reading and signing of two of his books titled ‘Trumpism in Academe’ and ‘Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth’.
Former governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State had asked Soyinka if he could write a Nigerian story that would evoke patriotism and inspire unity among the various tribes in the country.
Responding, the playwright said no narrative would unite the people of Nigeria without restitution and justice.
He explained that persons in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, who had lost relatives and loved ones due to violence, would not embrace any story of unity unless they got justice.
The Nobel laureate said Nigeria has lost a key opportunity to unite, adding that he did not believe that Buhari’s government can unite Nigeria as it suffers from systemic failure.
Soyinka added: “We had a critical moment and we lost that moment. The moment when this country could have come together; and the sense of oneness, belonging. That vision of oneness. We lost that moment. There has been more than one moment and we lost the moment. Will another one come? I don’t know. Right now I don’t see it under this government quite frankly.
“There is a failure, a systemic failure in present governance and I don’t know who can put it together. These days, I try to go some days without reading the newspapers. It is so depressing.”
Soyinka said he personally believes that Nigeria should not break up but should remain one entity.
He, however, argued that it is wrong of the government to continue to say the country’s unity is non-negotiable.
However, Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, on Saturday, declared his belief in a united Nigeria and condemned calls for secession by some groups in the country.
Umahi said this in Abakaliki during the conclusion of the 8-day prayer and fasting session organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi Chapter.
The governor said he believes in a country where oneness, freedom, equity, justice, fairness among other virtues, prevail.
“I do not believe in second-class citizenship where a section of the country is being seen to be superior to others.
“We are all created by God and no one should talk of disintegrating the country,” he said.
He admitted that most of the secessionist groups’ agitations are genuine, noting that they could however be addressed.
“I want Igbos to submit these agitations and I would lead the governors and leaders of the zone to the centre to address these grievances.
“The groups can then do what they like if after six months, we fail to address these grievances,” he said.
Umahi urged the people to shun bitterness, anger, violence among other vices, to avoid bringing war and destruction unto the land.
“We would tell the authorities in Abuja that our people are aggrieved but such cannot be addressed by insulting the president, governors and leaders from other regions of the country,” he said.
The governor thanked CAN for nurturing the spiritual life of the state and urged it to engage all aggrieved groups in the 13 local government areas of the state to shun violence.
Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali, State CAN Chairman, admonished Ebonyi people and Nigerians to appreciate God’s mercy upon them and repent from their evil ways.
“There has been no destruction or armed robbery in the state since this prayer and fasting session commenced as this shows God’s divine mercy upon the state.
“No country would experience the present situation in Nigeria and still remain one yet the citizens are bracing the inherent challenges with fortitude,” he said.