Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed concern that Nigeria has not learned from the lessons of its Civil War, as evidenced by the rise of secessionist movements in the country.

In his keynote address at the World Interfaith Harmony Week Conference and Awards, held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dogara noted that the lack of effective nation-building since independence has led to the emergence of groups advocating for secession.

Dogara, who was represented by Timothy Golu, remarked, “We have had a number of crises since independence, the worst of which was the civil war from 1966 to 1970. Seems we didn’t learn much from that sordid episode, after all.

The evidence of our abysmal failure at nation-building are right under our noses — the formation or the rise of successionist groups such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta; Niger Delta Frontier Force; Indigenous Peoples of Biafra; Oduduwa People’s Congress, among others.”

He also decried the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, noting that has been more terrorised since the return to democracy.

He said, “Since 1999, successive administrations have struggled to address the security challenges that have plagued the nation. The Boko Haram insurgency, which started in Borno State in 2009, has evolved into a major international terrorist organization, claiming thousands of lives and displacing over five million people. At one point, Nigeria was ranked the third most terrorized country in the world.”

The former Speaker also highlighted that the breakdown of law and order had led to the rise of criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom, banditry, and armed robberies, while ethnic and religious tensions have continued to fuel violence.

The failure to tackle these problems, according to Dogara, points to a broader issue of ineffective governance and poor responses to the underlying causes of discontent in various regions of the country.

Dogara expressed concern over the inability to achieve true unity in Nigeria, noting that even after decades of independence, the country has failed to integrate its diverse peoples, leading to the rise of separatist movements. He emphasized that the failure to address these issues is leading Nigeria down a dangerous path, with groups calling for secession as a result of feeling marginalised and excluded from the Nigerian state.

Dogara also stressed the role of religion in nation-building, stating that Nigeria’s religious diversity could play a key role in fostering peace, provided that the country learns to harness the values of both Christianity and Islam to promote unity.

However, he warned that without genuine efforts to address the root causes of conflict, the country would continue to face the challenges of insecurity, disunity, and calls for secession.

“Unfortunately, our history is marked by disturbing anecdotes of series of ethno – religious violence that have profoundly stymied nation building. Nevertheless, we can successfully harness and exploit the values in the two main religions in Nigeria to rein in sustainable peace.

Assuredly, our lives will begin to change the day we take responsibility for it. The future of peace, development and progress is very possible but only if we take the risk and accept the responsibility of consciously creating it.”

In attendance at the event were notable figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh.

During the event, Obasanjo delivered a paper on the importance of love for one another and for God, with the theme “The Love of the Good, and The Love of The Neighbors,” while also calling for peace in the country.

Obasanjo was honoured with the Apostle of Peace award, and Otunba Daniel received the Apostle of Peace Gold award.