Secession: Nigeria not a rat republic, says Tinubu

THE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says he stands for a united Nigeria, frowning at secessionist groups.

Nigeria is not a rat republic, hence it should be preserved as a productive, peaceful and united nation, said Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, and Senator.

He spoke to State House reporters in Abuja Monday evening after he led some APC leaders in the southwest on a condolence visit to President Buhari over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military officers in a plane crash in Kaduna on Friday.

Tinubu said: “We’ve already made our position clear; that we want a one, united, peaceful, stable country. Productive and promising. Nigeria is not just a rat village, it’s a nation and we want to keep it as one”.

Tinubu described the death of the military officers as “a national loss, saying “it’s demoralising, disheartening and sad.

He said they also visited Buhari to rub minds with him “to see commitment to humanity”.

Tinubu was accompanied by Lt General Alani Akinrinade (rtd); former Interim National Chairman of APC and ex-Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Pius Akinyelure.