Former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has
described the lingering crisis in Rivers State as “a sad development,” adding
that if allowed to fester, it may truncate Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
This is as he warned political
actors, both within and outside to state, to put an end to the crisis in the
interest of peace.
Abdulsalami gave the warning during
an interactive session with newsmen at his Hilltop residence in Minna, on
Thursday, stressing that “in a democracy, there is a limit to what freedom is
all about.”
According to the former head of
state, “you have freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of
expression and even freedom to ask questions, but your freedom stops where you
are infringing on the rights of others.”
While congratulating Muslims in the
country on the occasion of Ramadan fasting, Abdulsalami prayed that peace would
return to the country.
“It is very important that we have
peace. It is when there is peace that the people can really make a living. As a
result of this, I pray that the good tidings of Ramadan will abide with all of
us, so that peace will reign in this nation,” he said.
On the incidents in Rivers State,
Abdulsalami said it was quite bad, while charging politicians to reflect on
what they were doing in order not to truncate the democracy.
He disclosed that there was peace in
both Sudan and South Sudan, adding that “he has been very much involved in
ensuring lasting peace in both countries.”
“First and foremost, we have been
making efforts and there is peace in North and South Sudan. South Sudan marked
its second Independence anniversary four days ago.
“So we have been involved and
trying to make sure that peace reign in their countries and that is what we
have been doing on behalf of African Union (AU),” he said.
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Politics