Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, declared that the cost of staying together as a nation is cheaper than that of separation.

Obasanjo also asserted that the “many enemies” who don’t want to see the country’s continued  unity and co-existence would fail.

The elder statesman conveyed this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, while eulogizing former President, World Methodist Council, Prelate Sunday Mbang,  for his steadfastness, which he said, had kept their relationship intact over the years.

He described Mbang as a lover of Nigeria.

Obasanjo spoke at Mbang’s book launch titled: “My Life and Times a Memoir by Sunday Mbang” organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and supported by Access Bank PLC.

The launch took place  at the Admiralty Centre, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

While eulogising the celebrant, the ex-president assured the respected Christian leader that the enemies of Nigeria won’t win.

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“We are here to honour somebody we should honour, and learn from (Mbang), to show that we genuinely love and appreciate him for the service he has rendered to the Christian community in this country and world over. And to assure him that whatever happens, we will continue to work for unity, peace, security and progress of this country.

“I know that these are things that are dear to his heart. We want to assure you that Nigeria will continue to exist because the cost for Nigeria not to continue to exist is much more than the cost for us to make Nigeria to continue to exist.

“There are many people high and low – who can be described as enemies of Nigeria but they will not win over those who are friends of Nigeria.”

The celebrant recalled how he became friends with Obasanjo and since then “we have become brothers, but of different mothers.”

Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the occasion, Udom Emmanuel, thanked the former President and the celebrant for keeping together over the years, assuring that they would remain his fathers.”