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President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday identified regionalism as the root of Nigeria’s problems.
Obasanjo stated this when the League of Northern Democrats led by former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, visited him in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He noted that the regionalism principle adopted at Nigeria’s independence in 1960 was still being craved for today.
Obasanjo said: “Where a leader hails from does not matter. Rather, what he brings to the table regarding development and governance should matter.”
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The ex-president faulted the name of the group and advised it to become a national league rather than a sectarian group.
He added: “One of the things that led us to where we are today, and we haven’t gotten out of, is regionalism.
“Whenever I hear ‘North’, ‘East’ or ‘West’, I get frightened.
“Your name would have been ‘National League of Democrats’, instead of ‘Northern League of Democrats’. But you must start somewhere.”
He, however, noted that the group was right to be concerned about Nigeria.
“But how we correct the wrongs is what should be paramount in our minds.
“Nigeria is greater than all of us and we should see it as a holistic entity.
“I share your concern, but if you’re a National League, maybe I will join you and even be your Patron if I cannot be active because I’m getting old,” Obasanjo stated.
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