Former Governor of Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has described the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria as God’s plan for the country to develop into a world power.
Ezeife told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that Nigeria was endowed with human and natural resources capable of making it a rallying point for other countries.
He said, “The colonial masters were only implementing the desires of God. God wants us to be together,’’ the former governor said, referring to the 1914 unification of the two protectorates by the British colonialist to form Nigeria.
The former governor also said, “Black men need a rallying point and a big brother.
“They need someone to develop into a super power to raise the prestige and respect of black people anywhere they are, and that is the role of Nigeria.
“That is Nigeria’s destiny which we are running away from.’’
He called on Nigerians to harness their potentials towards developing the country, adding that the clamour for the country to divide would not be in the interest of peace and harmony.
“We have competed with whites in several ways and we have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nigeria is richly blessed, but how do we show the world what we are made of if we keep developing backward.
“There is the need for us to harness our potentials so that the country can compete favourably with other countries of the world,’’ he said.
The former governor called on politicians to emulate the American election to enhance development.
He described Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s acceptance of defeat in the U.S. Presidential election as a wakeup call for Nigerian politicians to avoid unnecessary bickering in the interest of the country.
“We should give peace a chance in Nigeria.
“There were lots of problem between Romney and Obama but they had to tolerate each other.
“At the end it was what they could do for America that mattered,'' he said. (NAN)