The first elected Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Alex Ekwueme has lambasted the Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu over the inceasant killing of Biafran activist, massacre of innocent civilians in other parts of the country, under the guise of preserving the unity of Nigeria.
In an interview granted to Channels Television during the 56th independence anniversary of Nigeria, the revered Anambra born philanthropist, unequivocally stated that unlike Ghana which naturally enjoys a huge spirit of nationhood, it is a blunder for anyone to address Nigeria as nation. The renowned Architect however noted that Nigeria should be rather addressed as a “geographical space”.
Dr. Alex Ekwueme who served as a Vice President during the administration of Shehu Shagari from 1979 to 1983 before the administration was overthrown by a military coup which produced the incumbent President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari as the then military Head of State; explained that with the increasing level of extrajudicial killings of innocent civilians exercising their right to self determination, and government’s inactions over the terrorism of Fulani herdsmen, it is very certain to all and sundry that Nigeria’s unity is in a very precarious and fragile state.
“Nigeria as we speak now is not a nation. Our neighbour, Ghana is a nation. There is a very big difference between a nation and a country.”
“In a nation, you have a sense of nationhood; in a country, you just have a sense of geographical space without a sense of nationhood.”
“The type of things that happen in Nigeria, like the killing of people from different parts of the country, it will never happen in Ghana.”
“There is nothing being positively done about national integration, and you can not have a nation just by wishful thinking; you have to work for it.” Mazi Ekwueme stated.
