Vice President Yomi Osinbajo, has warned that Nigeria cannot afford another civil war, hence the need for political elites in the country to speak up against the calls for disintegration and the worsening insecurity.
Osinbajo stated this Tuesday night at an interactive section with Anambra state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants organized by the state chapter of APC Patriots.
The Vice President said the negative implications of the silence of the political elites on the spate of attacks in the South-east and other parts of the country will have dire consequences on Nigerians national life.
“The thing about the kind of conflict in this part of the world – developing countries, is that it is usually a war without end.
“Everyone who thinks they have some monies stored up somewhere, will eventually run out of money.
“Everyone who think they can go and hide somewhere, won`t even find a place to hide, in the end, everyone will suffer.
“Even if you don’t suffer, your parents, children, young and old people and your relations will suffer. We cannot afford a war in this country, we can`t afford it,” he warned.
Pastor Osinbajo cautioned that the more the political elites avoid to speak and address the situation, the more we allow things to continue to slide, warning that failure to act now will be exposing the country’s future to danger.
He then prayed that the country would never know conflict.
“I pray that our country will never know conflict, but I know that every conflict is as a result of elite failure to speak up the truth and tell the truth to their communities,’’ Osinbajo said.
He said at the end of the day, it was the political elite that determines what happens in every society, adding that keeping quite could led to a more dangerous situation.
The Vice President expressed optimism that the elite could make a great difference just by the words they speak.
“If we don`t speak up against disunity, if we keep quiet and remain under the radar, the enemies of peace and those who want to promote disunity will have their ways. And when this happens, we will find ourselves running helter shelter,” Osinbajo said.
He, therefore, urged political elites in the country to always speak up and stand for something in the interest of the country and the general public. He maintained that keeping quiet is a great danger.
On the forth coming APC Anambra governorship primary slated for June 26, the Vice President assured all the aspirants of a level playing field for the best aspirant emerged as its candidate.
But charged them to work in unity and support whoever emerged as the flag bearer of the party at the November 6 Governorship election in the state, while he charged the would be candidate to avoid the winner takes all syndrome.
Earlier the coordinator of Anambra state APC Patriots, organizers of Governorship Aspirants interactive session, Hon. Dozie Ikedife Jnr said the interface was designed to bring all the aspirants together for opportunity to interact with each other and other party stakeholders in an atmosphere of concord and camaraderie.
The Patriots appealed to the leadership of the party to ensure that the process for the June 26 primary is free, fair and transparent with all the aspirants having level playing ground.
Nine of the aspirants at the interactive session include, Sen. (Dr.) Emmanuel Andy Uba, Dr. George Nnadubem Moghalu, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo and Sir. Azuka Okwuosa.
Others are Mr. Paul Izuchukwu Orajiaka, Chief Ben Etiaba Jnr, Col. Geoffrey Onyejegbu (rtd) and Comrade Maxwell Okoye.
