President Muhammadu Buhari who on Saturday jetted into the country from London where he had been on medical vacation made good his promise to address the nation today Monday.
In a 6-minutes broadcast monitored on the NTA, Monday, he said, “ Nigeria’s unity is settled and non-negotiable”.
According to the country’s first citizen, Nigerians have the right to agitate, demonstrate and protests for rights, against marginalization, equity and freedom but that they must do so through peaceful channels such the National Assembly, the Council of States which he said were “ legitimate platform for national discuss”.
He charged the security forces to deal with any troublemaker.
In a veiled reference to the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, currently canvassing a referendum for secession, he said, “In 2006 when I was preparing to contest for an election, Ojukwu ( Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafra leader), came to my house in Daura and we discussed far into the night and we agreed that Nigeria must remain united”
He said that from history many ‘trouble makers’, have a way of disturbing the peace of the country and then run away abroad to the detriment of peace loving compatriots at home.
‘This is not to deny that some of these Nigerians do not have legitimate concerns, but for the unity of the country different groups should be allowed to work out their difference peacefully. The National Assembly and Council of States are legitimate platforms to address such problems.
“I charge the security forces to deal with terrorists and mischief makers so that the rest of us can live in peace: Boko Haram, ethnic and mischief-makers should be dealt with.
“The government is committed to economic development, security, political integration and lasting peace for a united Nigeria”
Full Text of the Adress
BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI,
AUGUST 21, 2017.
My dear citizens,
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 is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode 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;
- economic security,
- 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. I am so glad to be home.
- Thank you and may God bless our dear Nation.
