Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State on Saturday, October 1, 2016, Independence Day said that Nigeria and its citizens were better-off as one indivisible entity haven kept the faith in the past 56 years of nationhood.
Bello said that there was no need agitating for secession, stressing that he was expecting Nigerians to dwell more on ‘‘what will bind us as one and less on what will bring about cracks among tribes.”
Bello spoke during a special parade by security agencies, school children, artisan and cultural groups to commemorate the 56th year of Nigeria’s nationhood, insisting: “Those who are calling for separation along regional or tribal considerations could be challenging God because the creation of Nigeria was not accidental, rather God ordained.
“Nigeria’s founding fathers were quick at inception to realize that there is unity in diversity and have over these years strived to keep the country together because the gains of remaining as one are far better than dividing along tribal or regional considerations.”
Bello said at the Minna Trade Fair complex that he would always support cause for the unity in diversity and, “If the national cake is no longer big enough, as it is being agitated for by a segment of the country, it is only logical that we come together and bake a bigger one”.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isah Ladan, had earlier explained that the state government decided to celebrate the 56th anniversary despite economic challenges as a way of infusing national consciousness in the people for collective contributions towards the development of Niger State and the Nigeria as a whole.
Governor Bello shortly after the independence anniversary parade flagged off the sale of assorted grains at 50 percent market price as part of palliative measures by his administration to cushion the devastating effects of economic recession on the citizenry.
The grains are to be sold at headquarters of each of the 274 wards in the state at government’s approved 50 percent discount rate.