President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that no one can force him into doing certain things in the country to satisfy certain people. He said as the leader of the country, he is aware of his responsibilities and cannot be forced or threatened making certain decisions.
The statement was made through the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, warning those giving specific timelines for the President to either do one thing or another or risk the nation’s breakup.
The statement by the president is likely a direct response to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who had on Saturday reportedly said: “It is either we restructure, or we break up, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that. That is certain – restructure or we break up.”
Shehu said “Such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the COVID-19 health crisis.
“This administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of health crisis.
“The president as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the Parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”
In addition to the struggle for the actualization of Biafra by pro-biafran groups in the country, the President of Yoruba World Congress, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has said the Southwest's push for self determination is also on course.
In a recent interview, Akintoye said, "It is within our legitimate right to determine whether we want to stay or not in the union called Nigeria. There is no way we can be held against our will if our people have already made up their mind to leave Nigeria. Nigeria is living on borrowed time, and it is just a matter of time before we all go our separate ways. There is no going back, Oduduwa Republic has come to stay. It has become a reality.
"There is so much injustice in Nigeria, and it is only here you have this kind of injustice, and oppression. There has been so much Fulani domination, and oppression of other groups in the country, and we can’t continue this way and this is why we feel that the best option for Yoruba is to exercise their right to self-determination.
"A country where one group is always aspiring to conquer other sections can no longer be called a country."