Former Minister of Transportation and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope yesterday accused the Nigeria’s President, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari of playing ethnic politics, saying that no tribe is superior to the other in the country.
Babatope charged Buhari to ensure there is justice, equity in the governance of the country, adding that he should not be unfair to any part of the geographical zones of the country.
Dissociating himself from the emergence of an independent Yoruba nation, which he described as laughable and extremist agitation, he said, “I am not part of those calling for the emergence of an independent Yoruba nation, it is an extreme measure to call for that, it is an extreme measure which will not stand. We have passed that stage in Nigeria and anybody that thinks he can carry power on his head will destroy himself”.
Featuring on a radio interview programme in Ibadan, Babatope urged Nigerians to fight for a Nigeria that guarantees fairness and freedom of expression, where all tribes will have equal rights and opportunities rather than its break up.
Stressing the need for the immediate restructuring of the nation, the astute politician said that restructuring is the act of redefining true federalism, which can give equal rights and freedom to all tribes in the country.
Asking Buhari to stop above partisan politics in the country, he said “nobody is happy with the situation of things in the country because things have gone really bad. Elections have been so badly organized and there is apparent problem with our security and nobody is safe in the country”.
He also charged Nigeria’s politicians to live above board and be accountable to those who voted them into power and warned election riggers in Nigeria to desist from the ignoble act as they would be reap the bad fruits of their actions.
“Nigeria politicians should ensure that they meet the aspirations of those who voted them into power. They should respect the wishes of Nigerians. Election riggers never end well. There are so many examples to confirm this”.
