‘Those waiting on the sidelines hoping Nigeria will break up will be sorely disappointed’, says Yemi Osinbajo
Those expecting Nigeria to break apart into pieces, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, would be disappointed.
On Monday, June 21, the Vice President announced this during the first All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressives Youth Conference.
In the domain of disruption and disruptive innovation, Osinbajo said that the concept that we are stronger together than in small parts is a good premise, and that those pushing for the country’s disintegration are completely incorrect.
He said:
“In the area of disruption and disruptive innovation, the principle that we are stronger together than in little part is a sound principle and it is my respectful view that those who advocate the breaking up of the country are terribly wrong.
“Our size is crucial for geopolitical and economic relevance. Our people will be better served by a large populous and diverse country. As with all big and diverse countries, our business is to make this union work; it is to give everybody a sense of belonging.
“All of those waiting on the sidelines, hoping that this big country called Nigeria will break up into bits so that they can pick up the pieces, will be very sorely disappointed and I am very sure that those of you who are seated here today will prevent that from happening.”
Recognizing the importance of ensuring that all Nigerians have a fair shot at improving their human situation, Osinbajo invited young Nigerians to participate in discussions that would accomplish this.
“I am also frankly not very impressed with the notion that the role and power of young people are somehow postponed until elders have gone, or that there’s some kind of generational queue that to which we all must subscribe.
“Even if that was true at some point, today, that notion stands on very weak legs indeed.”