The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has urged Nigerians to see the country’s diversity as a gift and a trust that must be safeguarded.
Marwa made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Buni Boy, a book by the late legal luminary Niyi Ayoola Daniels, in Abuja on Saturday.
Reflecting on the life of the author and the themes of the book, Marwa said the story “speaks to the unity and strength woven through our diversity as Nigerians.” He noted that his own experiences growing up in the 1960s and serving in the military shaped his understanding of national cohesion.
“I have long been an advocate of unity in diversity and of the strength that rises from it,” Marwa said. He recounted his formative years at the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, and the Nigerian Army, highlighting how interaction across ethnic lines instilled in him a deep appreciation for Nigeria’s multiethnic society.
Marwa also recalled his tenure as Military Administrator of Lagos State, emphasizing that the support he received from the Yoruba people motivated him to conduct a free and fair governorship election that led to the election of his successor, despite pressures from the military hierarchy.
“Even though the military hierarchy instructed me to prevent Senator Bola Tinubu from emerging governor because of his pro democracy activism, I chose to conduct a free and fair election that produced the most popular candidate. The rest is history,” he stated.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing challenges, Marwa stressed that difficulties stemming from poorly managed diversity should not justify division. “Our challenges should instead push us to repair the fault lines and pursue greater inclusion,” he said.
On the book itself, Marwa commended Mrs. Leticia Ayoola Daniels for keeping her late husband’s legacy alive. He noted that the story of an eighteen year old boy in the 1960s and the principled judge at the center of the book reflects “the very heart of the Nigerian spirit.”
The event was held at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, and was attended by dignitaries, literary enthusiasts, and members of the public.
