Former governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, says though he has reasons to support the breakup of the country, Nigerians should pray and work for a united Nigeria.

“I have enough reason to want the country to break down but this is a time to work for the peace and unity of our dear country,” Mr Okorocha said in an event to mark his 59th birthday on Sunday night.

“I am dedicating this birthday to a united Nigeria, I beg you to pray and support Buhari’s administration to tackle insecurity and restore peace in Nigeria. I plead with the clergymen to use the pulpit to preach for the unity of Nigeria,” he added.

Lamenting increased violence and bloodshed across the country, Mr Okorocha, a serving senator said, “My heart bleeds with the killing of countless Nigerians; the bloodbath in the country is worrisome but it is not over with Nigeria yet as there are better days ahead.”

Insecurity has taken a frightening trajectory in Nigeria with unknown gunmen killing and burning down public properties in the South-East, while bandits, kidnappers, and Boko Haram terrorists ravage the entire northern part of the country.

Aside from kidnapping hundreds of students in Katsina, Kagara Niger State, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara State, bandits in July bombed a Nigerian Airforce jet and also raided the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Defence Academy in August, killing two.

Spokespersons for the president Muhammadu Buhari regime and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, however, continue to dismiss reports on insecurity as the work of the opposition trying to rubbish the achievements of Mr Buhari.