Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned groups and individuals calling for secession as a result of growing insecurity and perceived injustice, saying Nigeria cannot afford another civil war.

Indeed, the Vice President declared that agitation for disintegration could lead to a war without end and urged the political elite to rise up in defence of national unity.

Osinbajo, who spoke on Wednesday in Anambra State, received the support of two prominent traditional rulers – the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, with both royal fathers cautioning against calls for secession.

Osinbajo spoke during a meeting with All Progressives Congress governorship aspirants in Anambra State.

He expressed worry over the silence of the elite on the spate of attacks in the South-East and other parts of the country.

At the session organised by Anambra APC patriots, led by Dozie Ikedife, the Vice President said Nigeria should avoid “a war without end.”

He said, “Everyone who thinks they have some monies stored up somewhere, will eventually run out of money. Everyone who thinks they can go and hide somewhere, won`t even find a place to hide. In the end, everyone will suffer.

“Even if you don’t suffer, your parents, children, young and old people and your relations will suffer. We cannot afford a war in this country, we can`t afford it.”

The Vice President said the failure of the elite to act now would expose the country to danger.

He said, “I pray that our country will never know conflict, but I know that every conflict is as a result of elite failure to speak up the truth and tell the truth to their communities.

“If we don`t speak up against disunity, if we keep quiet and remain under the radar, the enemies of peace and those who want to promote disunity will have their way. And when this happens, we will find ourselves running helter shelter.”

At another event in Lagos, Osinbajo, the Sultan, the Ooni and the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, attributed rising agitations and dissatisfaction across the country to illiteracy and misinformation.

They spoke at the presentation of a book titled ‘Islam in Yorubaland: History, Education and Culture’, by the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).

Osinbajo said it was saddening that those who are ill-informed have taken the mantle of demanding separation and promoting issues capable of pitching Nigerians against one another in a bid to achieving their agenda.

He argued that though the country was facing challenges and that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was exploring different options to bring about lasting solutions, Nigerians should support the government by shunning divisive rhetoric and their promoters.

The Vice President at the Lagos forum was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

He urged religious and traditional rulers to continue supporting the government in amplifying the message of peace and religious tolerance.

Sultan Abubakar said apart from history, religious leaders and scholars in Nigeria must feed their followers with the truth and the true meaning of the faiths they profess.

He called for religious tolerance to foster harmony across the country.

The monarch said it had become imperative for stakeholders to initiate policies that would bring down misinformation on religious differences.

Sultan Abubakar said calling for secession at the time Nigeria is seeking to fix its security apparatus.

Oba Ogunwusi also called for harmonious relationship among all tribes irrespective of their religious background. He called for unity among Nigerians.

He urged other regions to learn from the religious harmony in the South-West.

According to him, hardly is there a family in Yorubaland without having Muslims and Christians among them.

Despite this, Oba Ogunwusi said, it was rare finding people fighting over religion in the region.

Asiwaju Tinubu called for unity among Nigerians in the face of insecurity.

He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s efforts at quelling insurgents and banditry in the country.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a different forum expressed optimism that the nation would soon overcome its security challenge.

He called for prayers for the nation to overcome the security situation.

He spoke at the 108th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at the Baptist International Conference Centre, KM 54 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Obasanjo said, “On the situation we are in the country, I am an incurable optimist about a number of things particularly about Nigeria. The situation in Nigeria threatening but we won’t be consumed by it.

“Keep praying that the situation will only be threatening, but we won’t be overcome by it. May we continue to prosper. Continue to pray for the nation’s leaders towards surmounting its challenges.

“The issue of insecurity is a very big challenge. We need prayers; we need you to continue to pray for the leaders in this country and continue to do your bit because the government alone cannot do it.”