Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable, says Senate

…Vows to stand against moves to divide Nigeria

By Henry Umoru

THE Senate said yesterday that the unity of Nigeria as a country was not negotiable and cannot be compromised by anyone or ethnic group, just as it vowed to resist any move to divide the country.

The Senate has also resolved to take steps to curtail all threats to the continued existence of Nigeria as a  united and peaceful country, adding that it has become imperative that decisive actions were taken to halt factors that would mitigate against Nigeria’s unity.

The upper chamber also said that it will not be afraid of anyone in the country in its fight against corruption and in carrying out effective oversights of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government where corrupt practices would be exposed.

It will be recalled that all the Igbos residing in the North were on Thursday in Kaduna given  ultimatum by some Arewa youth groups to quit the northern parts of the country on October 1, 2017 or be forced to do so.

The position of the Senate was made known yesterday at a special mid-term session to mark the second year of the 8th Senate which was inaugurated on June 9, 2015.

The session was attended yesterday by some past Senate Presidents which include Senator Joseph Wayas; Senator Ameh Ebute; Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Senator Anyim  Pius Anyim;  National chairman of the All Progressives Congreas (APC), John Odigie- Oyegun; Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Bukola Saraki , among others.

Speaking yesterday, Senate President Bukola Saraki, who presided over the special session that lasted two hours noted that the Senate must stand for a non negotiable and united Nigeria, and that unity and peace were key issues that must be guaranteed for any meaningful development to take place.

“We must stand clealy and act clearly to defend this country. The unity of this country is not negotiable” Saraki said.

Saraki who noted that the next two years in the life of the Senate would be most challenging, however promised that the Senate would complete the process of amending the constitution. He then thanked his colleagues for their  support and encouragement.

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