President
Muhammadu Buhari who arrived the country yesterday has said that Nigeria’s unity is settled and not
negotiable, in an apparent reference to tension in the country.
In
his broadcast to the nation this morning, following his extended
medical vacation in the United Kingdom, Buhari also directed security
agencies to fight and destroy terrorists and criminals “so that the
majority of us can live in peace and safety.”
The president’s full speech runs:
I
am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers. I am
pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.
In
the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily
touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing
their affairs, but I was distressed to notice that some of the
comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red
lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This
is a step too far.
In
2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came
and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed
in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of
Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one
and united.
Nigeria’s
unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible
elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and
saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if
necessary with their blood.
Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.
I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.
This
is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a
grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation are that it
allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a model of
co-existence.
The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.
The national consensus is that it is better to live together than to live apart.
Furthermore, I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.
Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.
Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against;
• elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets
• kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes,
• in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.
Finally,
dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty
differences and come together to face common challenges of;
• political evolution and integration
• as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.
I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained.
Thank you and may God bless our dear Nation.”
