Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has again
assured Nigerians that the Buhari administration is not deaf to grievances in
parts of the country, disclosing that the government will address them, while
urging that such grievances be expressed with grace.
This emerged from the Highlights of the series of
consultations the Acting President called to interact with leaders from the
North, Southeast and the media over the last two weeks between 13 June to 22
June 2017.
A updated statement from the presidency today noted
that "the meetings were convened to provide a platform for frank and
open discussions between the concerned stakeholders and by extension the
Nigerian public on issues relating to the unity, peace and security of
country."
While this set of consultations were concluded last
week, the presidency will continue to actively engage with different segments
of the Nigerian population at different stages and format in the near future.
In response to the recent spate of agitations
pitting some groups in the North against others in the Southeast, the
Acting President commenced a series of engagements and consultations with
political, religious, traditional & media leaders from across the country
as follows:
· Northern Leaders of Thought: Tuesday 13 June, 2017
· Southeast Leaders of Thought: Wednesday 14 June,
2017
· Southeast Traditional Rulers: Sunday 18 June, 2017
· Northern Traditional Rulers: Tuesday 20 June, 2017
· All State Governors: Wednesday 21 June, 2017
· Media Publishers and Editors: Thursday 22 June,
2017
The Meetings were convened to provide a platform
for frank and open discussions between the concerned stakeholders and by
extension the Nigerian public on issues relating to the unity, peace and
security of country.
The Meetings touched on various issues relating to
the ethnic agitations that have manifested most recently in a call for
secession by some groups of youth from the Southeast, and an ultimatum by
Northern youths for south-easterners living in the North to leave the region by
1st October 2017.
The Meetings established common ground on a number
of issues, as follows:
· Condemned all the hateful and divisive rhetoric by
the concerned groups of Northern and Southeastern youths.
· Affirmed the primacy of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ultimate basis for the unity of Nigeria. That
Constitution guarantees freedom of residence and of movement for all Nigerians
anywhere in the country, without fear of discrimination or prejudice.
· Affirmed the need to draw a line between the
freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution and the degeneration of
such expression into hateful rhetoric, prejudice and hatred. Under no
circumstances will Government condone or tolerate hate speech in any way or
form.
· Affirmed the necessity of confronting all
grievances and frustrations head-on, however uncomfortable that might seem now;
instead of ignoring issues and allowing them to fester.
· Affirmed the need for all leaders and elders,
regardless of political or ideological persuasion, to speak out more forcefully
to counter divisive and hate speech and any form of warmongering.
The Acting President
expresses appreciation to all the leaders for their time and commitment to the
unity, peace and progress of the Nigerian nation. He also assures the Nigerian
people of the determination and resolve of the Buhari administration to ensure
their well-being and security at all times.
The Federal Government will
continue to actively engage with Nigerians of all shades and opinions in its
bid to move the country forward on a path of socio-economic development and
ultimate greatness.
Quotes from Speeches by Acting President Osinbajo,
SAN, GCON, during the Consultations:
“There is a point where a line has to be drawn, and
that is when conversations or agitations degenerate into hateful rhetoric,
where the narrative descends into pejorative name-calling, expressions of
outright prejudice and hatred.”
“Let me say that we are not deaf to the legitimate
concerns and frustrations arising from around the country. Every part of
Nigeria has its own grievances. But these have to be expressed graciously and
managed with mutuality rather than with scorn and disdain.”
“All of us have agreed that our nation must remain
one… I think that there is clarity as to that one thing, that our country ought
to remain, must remain, a united country.”
“It will be wrong of us to approach our grievances
by threatening to disobey the laws or by threatening the integrity of our
nation.”
“I firmly believe that we ought to address these
agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively. Burying our heads in the
sand and expecting the storms to blow over of their own accord is not an
option.”
“One thing is clear – violence and war are not
going to do anyone any good. They are easy to start but near impossible to end.
We are witnesses to the unspeakable devastation that war continues to inflict
across the world. No one who has seen the horrors of war – even merely on
television – would wish it on their worst enemy.”
“Our emotions must not be allowed to run wild in
such a way as to endanger the lives of so many.”
Tags
Politics