The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has urged Nigerians to embrace the country’s diversity, describing it as a strength rather than a burden.
Marwa made the call while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Buni Boy, a book written by the late legal icon, Niyi Ayoola-Daniels, on Saturday in Abuja. He said the story captured in the book reminded him of a period in Nigeria’s history when unity and mutual respect defined daily life.
“Our diversity is not a burden but a gift and a trust we must safeguard,” Marwa said. “What moves me most is not only the book itself but the life of its author and what that life represents. It speaks to the unity and strength woven through our diversity as Nigerians.”
Reflecting on his own upbringing, Marwa recalled the simplicity and harmony that characterised the 1960s, noting that Nigerians related to one another with openness and kindness despite ethnic differences.
He said his experience at the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, reinforced his belief in unity, as the institution welcomed students from all parts of the country and fostered strong bonds among them.
“Whether you spoke Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, we regarded ourselves as kin,” he said. “We didn’t see our Commandant as a Yoruba man; we saw him as a Nigerian with whom we shared a common identity.”
Marwa also highlighted how his early years, spent in various parts of the country due to his father’s military postings, shaped his appreciation for Nigeria’s diversity.
During his years in the army, he said, he came to understand even more deeply how ethnic differences dissolved through shared service, friendship and intermarriage.
“My life has taught me that the diversity of this country enriches us. It sharpens our understanding of one another and strengthens the fabric of our shared existence,” he added.
He recalled his tenure as Military Administrator of Lagos State, expressing gratitude for the support he received from residents despite political tensions at the federal level at the time.
Marwa disclosed that he resisted pressure from the military hierarchy to stop the emergence of Senator Bola Tinubu as governor.
“I was instructed to prevent him from emerging because of his pro-democracy activism, but I chose to conduct a free and fair election. The rest is history,” he said.
Marwa acknowledged that despite Nigeria’s current challenges, no difficulty justifies calls for division. Instead, he urged Nigerians to focus on healing national fault lines and building a more inclusive society.
Speaking about the book, he praised the author’s widow, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, for preserving her late husband’s legacy.
He said the story resonated with him personally, not only because he once governed old Borno State—where Buni Yadi was located—but also because he knew the family of the judge whose integrity shaped the author’s life.
“The transformation of an eighteen-year-old boy in the 1960s and the wisdom of a judge who stood for justice reflect the heart of the Nigerian spirit,” he said.
