President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday mentioned that he was one of those who fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970.
The President disclosed this while speaking at the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium to celebrate his 69th birthday in Kano State.
Buhari, who participated virtually commended the celebrant for being an advocate of unity
Commenting on the colloquium, Buhari said the objectives of the event, which seeks to provide answers to national issues, further reflects the personal principles of Bola Tinubu in promoting the unity and welfare of the country.
Buhari said despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions and diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, “Nigerians are better together; even stronger together”.
“I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind.”
“I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion.”
Buhari recalled Tinubu’s involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to his period as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.