Taiwo Popoola
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said he would choose Nigeria over the Oodua Republic despite being a Yoruba man.
Obasanjo’s remark followed recent moves by freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo aka Igboho, who submitted a petition to the government of the United Kingdom, UK, regarding the Yoruba Nation.
Igboho had submitted the petition to the UK Prime Minister, Keir Stermer for his government to consider the creation of Yoruba nation.
However, Obasanjo distanced himself from the proposed Yoruba nation.
The former president spoke when a delegation from the League of Northern Democrats led by Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano State visited him at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo described the regionalism practised before Nigeria’s independence as the root cause of the nation’s prolonged disunity.
He said: “It is high time we began working for the national interest. Yes, you have identified your group as the League of northern democrats but how I wish you called your group the National League of Democrats because where you come from should not be a problem.
“Where I was born should not be the enemy of my being a Nigerian. It will be greater to be a Nigerian than to be a member of the Republic of Oodua.
“I am undoubtedly proud to be a Yoruba but my being a Nigerian should not be the enemy of my being a Yoruba.
“We must get the best man for the job. It doesn’t matter where he comes from. We must get our acts together.”
