The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde says Nigerian elites are responsible for the disunity and division in the country.

Makinde stated this in Abuja, on Wednesday at the public presentation of a book titled: ” Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration.”

CEOAFRICA reports that the book was authored by the former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

The governor warned that divisions among the political class were undermining national unity and progress.

According to him, ordinary Nigerians across all divides had largely reached a consensus on remaining united as one country.

He lamented that elites often exploited ethnic, religious and regional differences for political ambition.

The governor called for “elite consensus” on the way forward, urging leaders across party lines to identify Nigeria’s present challenges and design solutions appropriate to current realities.

“My experience is that ordinary Nigerians already have a consensus that they want to be Nigerians. But we the elites are the ones dividing the country because of our ambition.

“Oh, he’s a Muslim, he’s Christian, he’s a South-South, he’s Yoruba.

“We need elite consensus on how to move forward,” he said.

Makinde also called for far-reaching political reforms to move Nigeria forward.

The governor, who noted that he was not a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said his presence at the event underscored the need for national dialogue that transcends partisan boundaries.

He also used the opportunity to reaffirm his position that he was not decamping to the ruling APC.

Congratulating Mohammed on the publication, the governor encouraged leaders to document their experiences in public service to enrich Nigeria’s history.

“Our leaders should enrich our history by documenting how they saw events from their own perspectives. ‘

It gives future generations something to interrogate, critique and learn from,” he said.

He recalled his personal encounters with late President Muhammadu Buhari, including their joint participation as candidates of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in the 2007 elections.

The governor also noted how political trajectories often changed over time.

He reflected on Nigeria’s federal structure, saying the challenges facing the country today were different from those that followed the civil war, when national unity was the overriding concern.