President Muhammadu Buhari has despatched his ministers to their home states to meet with stakeholders with the aim of dousing tension created by the #EndSARS protests and the lawlessness that followed.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, revealed this in Uyo yesterday while meeting with stakeholders comprising of youths of the state.
Akpabio, who explained that peace was expedient in the region because it produces the oil that the nation depends on.
He said he was in the state on the orders of President Buhari as a result of the #EndSARS protests which became infiltrated by hoodlums to cause chaos across the country, sued for peace among the youths.
He said already the region has suffered enough destruction by militants before now, and urged the youth to embrace the programmes and policies rolled out by the President aimed at addressing the challenges in the region.
“We have gone round and seen the level of destruction in the state, it is a sordid site. People were working in all these places they destroyed. This is very sad and regrettable. This must stop.
The former Governor of Akwa Ibom state commended the Governors of the region for taking steps to ensure that security of lives and property of people of the area were protected.
He called for a bipartisan approach in the South-South to address the issues raised by the youths.
In his remarks, The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Senator Ita Enang, warned youths of the region against destroying public utilities and infrastructure.
He encouraged all those with genuine complains to avail themselves of the Judicial Committee of Inquiry set up by the State Government to address their complaints.
Similarly, in the North West, Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, who also confirmed the directive of the president during a courtesy call to Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State in Dutse.
He said the cabinet members were directed to “go to our states to solicit the support of political, traditional, religious and community leaders against the violence that emanated from # EndSARS protests.”
Adamu said he was therefore in the state to meet with leaders on “promoting tolerance, peace and stability in this critical moment and hear from them and report back to him (Buhari) immediately.”
He acknowledged that the #EndSARS protests started well and was in line with the Nigerian constitution only to be hijacked along the line by those who infringed on the rights of other citizens, killed innocent persons, looted and engaged in other criminal acts.
He said: “President Muhammad Buhari is soliciting the support of all other political leaders in the state to properly address the people of the state on the need to dispel any rumour that is tantamount to creating disunity among Nigerians and also throw the nation into crisis.”
