The Federal Government at the weekend said it would not entertain the balkanisation of any part of the country.

It also explained that there will be no room for secession, saying Nigerians living together is an obligation and not optional.

Certain groups have been campaigning to be allowed to exit the Nigerian union brought together under the separate Southern and Northern protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914.

Nigeria gained independence from British colonialists in 1960.

The country fought a civil war for almost three years between 1967 and January 1970.

Minister of Defence Mohammed Abubakar reaffirmed the indivisibility of the country at the weekend during a peace meeting in Plateau State.

Badaru said: ?The Federal Government will not entertain such demand capable of causing division and disaffection among Nigerians.

?Therefore, living together is not an option but an obligation.

?This is evident in Mr President?s firm resolve to fight any secessionist agenda in any part of the country.

?My presence here is to fulfil my mandate as the Minister of Defence charged with the responsibility for the protection of our national territory both from external and internal aggression.

?Therefore, I will not relent until the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence deploy all assets to ensure our people sleep with their eyes closed.

?I must first express my displeasure over the recurring attacks and reprisals that resulted in the loss of lives and property especially in Jol and Sho in Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs in recent times.

?These killings kept recurring despite the best efforts of our security agencies on the Plateau; especially 3 Division (Nigerian Army)/Operation Safe Heaven (OPSH) to ensure amicable settlements during any incidents involving attacks on cattle or farm as well as cattle rustling.??

Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa State, also said the government was highly disturbed that some people would want to disrupt the current farming season.

He added: ?I am particularly saddened by the stance of some unscrupulous elements in some communities who vowed to disrupt farming activities during the ongoing rainy season despite all efforts to resolve the security issues in your localities through diverse means.

?The continuous recurrence of farmers/herders clashes not just on the Plateau but across other states of the federation is quite worrisome.

Also yesterday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo backed the use of community policing to curb insecurity in the country.

?The best form of security is community policing because everyone knows his/her neighbours within the community.

He challenged all levels of government, traditional rulers, and the people to team up to defeat non-state actors who have for long held the country by the jugular.

The former President spoke yesterday in Bauchi, Bauchi State where he inaugurated projects executed by Governor Bala Mohammed.

He also met with the Emir of Bauchi Rilwanu Adamu.

Obasanjo, who revealed he almost lost his hearing ability, said many people are deaf without knowing it until they go for medical checks.

He recounted that he was abroad and could not hear clearly when someone spoke to him.

Obasanjo said he insisted that nothing was wrong with his ears until the man who was talking to him asked for his permission to check his ears.

?After my result came out, I had to ask the man to also check on my Chief Security Officer. Shockingly enough, he was more deaf than I was; my hearing loss then was 25 per cent,? he said.

The experiencee, he said, spurred the creation of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation which has provided thousands of Nigerians the opportunities to undergo ear treatment and receive hearing aids.

The former president said he would inaugurate the distribution of hearing aids targeting about 10,000 indigent people in the Northeast, starting from Bauchi where 2,000 people would benefit. (The Nation, but headline rejigged)

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