President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday,
May 9, 2016 lashed out at agitators for a break-up of the South East
from the federation in the name Biafra.
He said his administration would ensure continuous existence of Nigeria as a united entity.
Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, is on trial for alleged treason at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking at the palace of the Emir of
Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabiru Usman, as part of the activities of
his official visit to his home state, the president recalled that over
two million Nigerians were killed during the 30-month civil war between
1967 and 1970.
“But recently, some people who were not even born during the war are saying they want to divide Nigeria.
“I always say the civil war was fought
for the unity of Nigeria because then we hadn’t even discovered oil let
alone enjoying it. But two million people were killed,” he said.
The president added: “The way the Sahara
is advancing, with Boko Haram, growing number of people and uncertainty
over rainfall, in a land where we fought civil war leading to the death
of about two million, for someone to just say he will chase us out? So
where do we go?”
The president didn’t get his
facts right. Crude oil was first discovered Oloibiri in President
Goodluck Jonathan’s local government area of Ogbia in Bayelsa State in
1956. By the time the Nigerian civil war started in 1967, Nigeria was
an oil economy.
The president who admitted that he knows
the difficulties that Nigerians are passing through said government was
doing everything possible to change the fortunes of the nation for the
better.
He urged Nigerians who have land to embrace farming “while those who don’t have should learn a trade”.
He urged traditional rulers to spearhead
the campaign for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the diverse
socio-political groups in the country.
He said the call had become imperative
in view of the activities of some groups which are preaching hatred,
disunity and divisive tendencies among Nigerians for their selfish
motives.
He enjoined all Nigerians to always ignore those individuals and groups calling for the break-up of Nigeria.
He also called on community leaders
across the country to introduce monthly or quarterly meeting in their
respective communities to address issues concerning their welfare.
According to him, such meeting will
provide solutions to some challenges facing the people rather than
awaiting government intervention to resolve such problems.
President Buhari enjoined leaders to
always be honest and straightforward while dealing with the people in
order to ensure good upbringing of the younger ones in the society.
The Emir accused the immediate past
administration of Goodluck Jonathan of abandoning the contract for
dredging of River Niger noting: “inland water way is the wealth of the
nation and these people don’t want it here”.
Emir Kabir who urged residents to intensify prayers for the president said there are enemies within and outside.
“We know there are saboteurs but we will
finish them with prayers” the Emir said and requested for the
renovation of dams in the state so as to boost irrigation farming and
water supply.
The President paid a similar visit to
the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, where he reassured Nigerians
that his administration would continue to promote programmes and
policies that would ensure unity, stability and development of the
country.
According to him, the 2016 Budget of
Change, just signed into law, represents a major step in delivering a
new opportunity for Nigeria.
He said despite the challenges, his
administration has the will, resourcefulness and commitment to not only
secure Nigeria and rebuild the economy but also deliver prosperity to
the people.
The president hails from that town.
Special prayers were offered for the nation and its leaders at the palaces of the two emirs.
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