Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, the Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing from 1987 to 1974, says Nigerian separatists leaders, Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho have no business agitating for secession.
For Okunnu, he is all for ‘One Nigeria’.
Asked about his take on the activities of Kanu and Igboho in a recent interview with Vanguard, Okunnu said: “That is a large issue but my question is, who gave them the mandate for self-determination? Who gave Sunday Igboho the mandate for Yoruba independence? Who gave Kanu the mandate for Biafra nation? Who gave them the mandate that the Igbo should break away from Nigeria or that the Yoruba should break away? Who told them that there was a Yoruba kingdom or an Igbo kingdom? Where is it in history? People just misread, or misinterpret or misconstrue history for their self-purpose.
“I am firmly for the unity of this country. I am strongly for it. As I stood against secession from 1967-1970 when I was in government, I will still stand against secession by any group in Nigeria, be it Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or any group. Nigeria is a collection of many groups and we should leave it like that.
“The problem with Nigeria is bad governance. Like I said about vaccines, if we are still begging for vaccines instead of buying and making sure it goes around; I’m saying the same thing about bad governance. Bad governance has been the problem with Nigeria.”
In Nigeria mandate is self acquired