Those clamouring for the Republic of Biafra have no idea what befell the country during the civil war, between 1967 and 1970 when the country list about 2 million lives were lost, President Muhammadu Buhari said in Abuja.
In reference to the agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Niger Delta Avengers the President said Nigerians have to reflect on the antecedents to appreciate what is going on now and the impact it would have on future generations.
”The militants in their various homes, we need to reflect very seriously on what happened between 1967 and 1970 where about two millions 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 has been to school or not knew what the General meant.
“But, we were quarreling with our brothers, we were not fighting an enemy and then 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”, the President noted at a breaking of fast meeting with members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential banquet hall, Aso Villa, Abuja.
Noting that the country needs a lot of prayers with the nation’s economy going down, plans to develop the agriculture sector as well as development of the mining sector, the President charged the ministers to redouble their efforts in praying to God for a better and peaceful Nigeria in this month of Ramadan.
He thanked the ministers and other members of the cabinet for accepting to serve, and to identify with the APC-led Federal Government.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke for the cabinet members thanked the President for inviting them for the breaking of fast dinner.
