Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged politicians in the country who are still playing tribal politics to do away with such attitude, saying Nigeria could only progress if every citizen sees himself or herself first as a Nigerian before other considerations.
Obasanjo regretted that 55 years after Nigeria’s independence, the country was yet to outgrow tribal, sectional, ethnic and regional politics.
The former leader who spoke in Abeokuta maintained that until every Nigerian extol the philosophy of a united Nigeria like the late politician Adegoke Adelabu, the country would remain where it is today.
He spoke when the family members of one of Nigeria’s foremost politician, popularly known as “Pekelemesi” called on him at his Abeokuta Hill top residence informing him of the planned centenary posthumous birthday of the politician.
The ex-president who accepted to be the chairman of the ceremony, also promised necessary support to make the event which would equally witness launch of a foundation and lecture in the late Adelabu’s honour, a memorable one.
Obasanjo told the Adelabus led by the eldest child, Mrs. Anifat Adelabu-Alli, that he shared the view of their late father of believing in one united Nigeria and Africa, in his lifetime.
He said, “I believe that Adelabu deserves the honour you are planning for him. We are still struggling to reach the pinnacle of Adelabu’s in politics of not being swayed by linguistic, tribal, regional, sectional but what is best for Nigeria. “He was years ahead of his contemporary politicians.
In his lifetime, he was talking about United States of West Africa. ECOWAS came many years after.
“In his lifetimes, he belonged to a political party that had its base outside the defunct Western Region, where he came from. He was not a tribal baron. He was a national politician, so when you asked me to be a Patron of Adelabu posthumous centenary birthday celebration, I have no reason to say no, because I shared in what Adelabu stood for.
Source:Leadership
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