Osinbajo warns that many of those chanting marginalisation just want political appointments

ACTING president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has taken a swipe at many pseudo-activists complaining about ethnic marginalisation saying they are just opportunists seeking political appointments.

Over the last two years, claims and counter-claims about ethnic marginalisation in Nigeria have grown, leading to the agitation for secession in some parts of the country. Speaking yesterday at a seminar on unity and national security organised by the Institute of Security Studies, Abuja, Professor Osinbajo said most of the agitators were fighting for personal interest rather than the good of their ethnic groups.

Professor Osinbajo said: “It is also not true that those who make marginalisation charges are altruistic. Often what they are saying is, I am marginalised, appoint me.”

At the moment, there is a prevailing groundswell of agitation for the restructuring of the country, which many people and groups claimed was caused by the marginalisation of their ethnic groups. These agitations have even led to hate speeches from separatist groups that had sprung up all over the country.

Cautioning against the trend, Professor Osinbajo warned that many of those complaining about marginalisation were insincere and were only using it as a bargaining chip to feather their self-serving interests. He berated the agitators for resorting to hate speeches, saying that it was inimical to the unity and development of the country.

Professor Osinbajo said: “Hate speech precedes tragedies in human history. It is a false narrative that one group is more corrupt than the other, not so.

"If you look at a corruption charge sheet, there is unity as you find all ethnic and religious groups equally represented in corruption. There’s complete unity in the business of corruption.”

He added that the evidence that the agitators were self-serving could be found in the endemic nature of corruption. Professor Osinbajo pleaded for restraint, saying Nigeria would be better and stronger as one united nation.

“It is a false narrative that we are better off when ethnic groups are on their own. While different groups have strength, we are better united,” Professor Osinbajo added.

Also, Professor Osinbajo said it was untrue that nations that were formed the way Nigeria was formed were bound to fail, explaining that the term mere geographic expression was not original to Nigeria. This heated atmosphere has been worsened by the National Assembly’s rejection of the constitution amendment bill seeking to devolve more powers to the states.