From Juliana Taiwo- Obalonye, Abuja
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari had said Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Niger Delta Avengers as well as their sponsors never witnessed the calamities that befell the country during similar agitations between 1967 and 1970 where about two million lives were lost.
He said it was important for Nigerians to reflect on the historical antecedents to appreciate what is happening now and the impact it would have on the future generation.
The president said this on Tuesday night at the breaking of fast for members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja, where he charged them to redouble their efforts in praying to God for a better and peaceful Nigeria in this month of Ramadan.
President Buhari stated that the nation needed a lot of prayers in view of the current economic and security challenges.
He, particularly, cited the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and those agitating for the State of Biafra, reminding them and their sponsors of the calamities that befell the country during similar agitations between 1967 and 1970 where about two millions lives were lost.
“We need a lot of prayer. Certainly, with the nation’s economy going down, we haven’t developed agriculture, we are still trying to talk on those who will come and develop the solid minerals for us.
“We need to reflect very seriously on what happened between 1967 and 1970 where about two million Nigerians lost their lives.
“At that time, as young military officers, you hardly heard of anything about petroleum or whatever money you got from it.
“Look at what Gen. Yakubu Gowon said: “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done” and every soldier, whether he had been to school or not knew what the General meant.
“But we were quarreling with our brothers; we were not fighting an enemy, and somebody is saying that once again he wants Biafra.
“I think this is because he was not born when there was Biafra. We have to reflect on the historical antecedents to appreciate what is before us now and what we intend to leave for our children and our grand children,” he warned.
According to him, the Month of Ramadan is a special time when God listens and answers prayers from the faithful, adding that it also provides leaders the opportunity to be more conscious of their responsibilities to the people they govern.
“It strengthens our resolve to build our country to make it stronger and to make sure that the incoming generations are sufficiently motivated to be patriotic.”