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 Politics › Re: Anambra Repaying Debts incurred By Obi, Obiano Administrations - Okafor by sonofthunder: 6:54pm On Sep 14 |
mycar:You didn't read where chatgpt said it got some information from DMO but the information there is not actually complete? 1 Like 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: Anambra Repaying Debts incurred By Obi, Obiano Administrations - Okafor by sonofthunder: 6:25pm On Sep 14 |
Angelfrost:They are getting the money from having drastically increased allocations from FG and being recognised as a oil producing state 1 Like 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: Anambra Repaying Debts incurred By Obi, Obiano Administrations - Okafor by sonofthunder: 6:23pm On Sep 14 |
Angelfrost:
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| Politics › Re: Anambra Repaying Debts incurred By Obi, Obiano Administrations - Okafor by sonofthunder: 6:22pm On Sep 14 |
mycar:
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| Health › Re: I Want To Marry Her But She Has Hepatitis B by sonofthunder: 8:43pm On Sep 11 |
Darkberry:Chronic doesn't mean it's serious.... Just means it's been longer than 6 months. Many people with the disease don't even drugs. You guys just consult a good doctor and take care of one another. |
| Business › Re: Modernizing Compliance: Why Nigerian Businesses Must Embrace E-Invoicing by sonofthunder: 7:18am On Sep 11 |
LessaTax:Is the e-invoicing free? We are just planning to monetise every aspect of living and hinge everything in life on one perpetual subscription or another. 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 8:32pm On Sep 10 |
WhizdomXX:Who's owing me money? |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 1:22pm On Sep 10 |
onuman:Oniro 😅😅😅 |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:09pm On Sep 10 |
Image123:If I'm the inec chairman, past or present, I'll sue him to release the proof oh. There will be no respect for his office as ex-governor or failed presidential aspirant. 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:05pm On Sep 10 |
ogolemati:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:05pm On Sep 10 |
Curious345:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:04pm On Sep 10 |
SadiqBabaSani:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:04pm On Sep 10 |
SeeWahala:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:03pm On Sep 10 |
aworatak:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" |
| Politics › Re: Civil War: Let's Forget The Past. I Believe In One Nigeria, Tinubu Doesn't - Obi by sonofthunder: 12:02pm On Sep 10 |
fergie001:Yes. **There is credible evidence that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted in 1997 as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”** But the statement needs to be understood in the context in which he made it, rather than treated as a standalone declaration that he wanted Nigeria to break up. ### What actually happened? The statement appeared in a **ThisDay newspaper interview published on April 13, 1997**, when Tinubu was living in exile in London. The interviewer was Ayo Arowolo. Multiple later reports have reproduced or discussed the old publication. ([Nairaland][1]) The timing is extremely important. This was **after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election** and during **General Sani Abacha's military dictatorship**. Tinubu was a member of the pro-democracy movement and had gone into exile. He was associated with NADECO, which was campaigning for democracy and restoration of the June 12 mandate. The surviving excerpts from the interview show that Tinubu was discussing **ethnicity, oppression, the military government and the political structure of Nigeria**. For example, one reproduced excerpt has him saying that if the government had ethnicised the struggle against oppression, he would not deny his ethnic identity, while emphasizing that **the struggle itself was a national issue** and concerned the election of Nigeria's president and his own mandate as a senator. ([Nairaland][2]) So there are actually **two things that can simultaneously be true**: 1. **Tinubu really was quoted as saying “I don't believe in one Nigeria.”** 2. **The broader interview does not establish that he was advocating Biafra-style secession or the physical breakup of Nigeria.** ### What did “I don't believe in one Nigeria” apparently mean? The most reasonable reading from the available context is that he was expressing **disillusionment with the Nigerian political arrangement under military dictatorship**, rather than saying, *“I want Nigeria divided into separate countries.”* Remember the circumstances: * June 12 had been annulled. * Abacha was ruling by military decree. * Tinubu was in exile. * Democratic institutions had been dismantled. * Political opponents were being persecuted. * NADECO was demanding restoration of democracy. Tinubu's political argument at the time was essentially that the Nigeria being operated by the military **was not the Nigeria he believed Nigerians should have**. That distinction matters. ### Did he later change his position? **Clearly, yes.** By 2017, Tinubu was publicly describing himself as **“a firm believer in Nigeria”** and saying he believed Nigeria could become a great nation. This was during his keynote address at the King’s College Old Boys' Association annual dinner. He also argued that Nigeria needed to address the grievances producing separatist agitation rather than ignore them. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) That's significant because it demonstrates that his later public position was explicitly pro-Nigeria. ### But here's the important political point It would be wrong to say: > **“Tinubu never said he didn't believe in One Nigeria.”** The evidence says he **did make that statement in 1997**. A fact-check based on the old newspaper publication reached that conclusion. ([Nairaland][1]) But it would also be an exaggeration to say: > **“Tinubu was a separatist who wanted Nigeria to break up.”** I haven't found evidence in the material available that establishes that conclusion. In fact, the excerpts from the same interview point toward a struggle for **democratic Nigeria**, rather than a Biafran-style secessionist project. ([Nairaland][2]) ### One more important caveat There is some uncertainty about the **independent verification of the original newspaper page**. Some later publications reproduced the claim but explicitly said they could not independently verify the authenticity of the old publication. ([NN News Media][4]) So my assessment would be: | Claim | Assessment | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Tinubu was reported by ThisDay in 1997 as saying “I don't believe in One Nigeria” | **Yes** | | It was said during the Abacha/military era | **Yes** | | He was in exile in London | **Yes** | | He was involved in the pro-democracy struggle | **Yes** | | The statement necessarily meant he wanted Nigeria to break up | **No evidence sufficient to conclude that** | | He later publicly affirmed belief in one Nigeria | **Yes** | | Therefore, his 1997 and later positions are different | **Yes** | **Bottom line:** Tinubu did make the controversial 1997 statement, but **the context was his opposition to the military dictatorship and the dysfunctional political Nigeria of that period**. It should not automatically be interpreted as a declaration of support for secession. His later position was explicitly that he believed in one Nigeria and wanted it restructured/reformed rather than dismantled. ([The Guardian Nigeria][3]) If you want, I can also **reconstruct the full 1997 interview from the surviving excerpts and show exactly what Tinubu said before and after the “I don't believe in One Nigeria” line**. [1]: https://www.nairaland.com/7273478/fact-check-did-tinubu-ever?utm_source=chatgpt.com "FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Ever Say He Did Not Believe In One Nigeria? - Politics - Nigeria" [2]: https://www.nairaland.com/6077795/dont-believe-one-nigeria-tinubu/9?utm_source=chatgpt.com "'I Don't Believe In One Nigeria'- Tinubu ThisDay 1997 Headline Shared By Kperogi - Politics (10) - Nigeria" [3]: https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-votes-restructuring-return-to-1963-constitution/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tinubu votes restructuring, return to 1963 constitution | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News" [4]: https://nnnewsmedia.com/archive-i-dont-believe-in-one-nigeria-says-tinubu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "ARCHIVE: I don’t believe in one Nigeria – Says Tinubu - NN News Media" 1 Like |
| Foreign Affairs › Re: UN Adopts New World Map To Correct Africa’s Distorted Size by sonofthunder: 2:53pm On Sep 06 |
bestofnollywood:Where is the corrected world map |
| Politics › Re: 2027: 'If Amaechi Wins His Village, He Has Won The Election' - Wike Boasts by sonofthunder: 7:38pm On Sep 05 |
I believe Amaechi would be a more successful politician if he didn't come from same state as Wike. |
| Education › Re: FG Unveils ₦10 Billion 2026 Grant For Researchers by sonofthunder: 8:07pm On Aug 31 |
InfoGuru118:Who and who has the opportunity to apply? |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: 20-Year-Old Malian Midfielder, Malick Yalcouyé Causes Stir Online by sonofthunder: 5:14am On Aug 31 |
Satazaa:That was the most foolish comment and it's very disturbing that you hold it in high esteem. It's usually people that aren't contributing anything valuable that go about condemning others. 1 Like |
| Crime › Re: NDLEA Intercepts ₦6.2 Billion ‘Jihadi Drug’, Opioids At Lagos Airport by sonofthunder: 6:43pm On Aug 30 |
Are these drugs being produced in Nigeria? |
| Politics › Re: Obidient Flag Boy Withdraws Support For Peter Obi, Burns NDC Flag by sonofthunder: 7:48pm On Aug 29 |
[quote author=chopnaira post=140481635]Obidient Flag Boy withdraws his support for NDC and Peter Obi because of Mama Pee and burns the NDC flag, Peter Obi Merchandise ever has a backstory to this should please give me a mention with a deeper explanation or a link.... Thanks |
| Education › Re: 10 Courses Producing The Highest-Paying Jobs In Nigeria In 2026 by sonofthunder: 3:31pm On Aug 29 |
yarofearless:It's not just by highest paying but also how many opportunities are available for graduates in that field 3 Likes |
| Health › Re: Russian Man Dies After Contracting Malaria in Nigeria by sonofthunder: 1:20pm On Aug 28 |
oluplus:Repeated exposure can also damage the liver and other organs. Choose your devil. |
| Sports › Re: NFF Agree To Record $8.5 Milliom Annual Adidas Deal For Nigeria by sonofthunder: 1:10pm On Aug 28 |
SportblitsNews:How much do they make from Nigeria yearly? Must be more than I would have imagined before this update. |
| Politics › Re: Nigeria’s foreign reserves cross $53 billion, hit highest level since 2009 by sonofthunder: 9:21am On Aug 28 |
So the foreign reserves never reached this level during the much celebrated Goodluck Jonathan and part of Yar' Adua eras of prosperity 1 Like |
| Health › Re: Russian Man Dies After Contracting Malaria in Nigeria by sonofthunder: 6:12am On Aug 28 |
Manfromlasvegas:Despite the immunity that some of built or is it better to say resistance, many Nigerians and Africans still die of malaria. 1 Like |
| Health › Re: Russian Man Dies After Contracting Malaria in Nigeria by sonofthunder: 6:09am On Aug 28 |
Agent8706:You aren't so immune as you think. Nobody brings you news of malaria deaths in Nigeria. 2 Likes |
| Health › Re: Russian Man Dies After Contracting Malaria in Nigeria by sonofthunder: 6:08am On Aug 28 |
fasho01:Malaria is not like common flu, it's very deadly. You are only alive because of access to good healthcare. Make a Google search on the number of deaths attributed to malaria in Nigeria. 3 Likes |
| Business › Re: NNPCL, SNEPCo, Esso, Agip Seal Deepwater Bonga Deal, Target $21 Billion by sonofthunder: 6:14pm On Aug 27 |
emperor4love:Stop arguing with yourself..... Your point is convoluted |
| Business › Re: NNPCL, SNEPCo, Esso, Agip Seal Deepwater Bonga Deal, Target $21 Billion by sonofthunder: 6:13pm On Aug 27 |
emperor4love:I'm talking about rice 🍚🌾 and you are talking about potatoes. |
| Business › Re: NNPCL, SNEPCo, Esso, Agip Seal Deepwater Bonga Deal, Target $21 Billion by sonofthunder: 6:13pm On Aug 27 |
emperor4love:Again I'm talking about rice 🍚🌾 and you are talking about potatoes. If you like fold your arms and be waiting for Obi or Tinubu to drop Ghana must go bags inside your room |
