Quit notices to herders: Leaders’ silence dangerous – Saraki

A former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Sunday expressed worry over the deafening silence of key stakeholders and leaders over the quit notices given to Fulani herders in Oyo and Ondo States, and the burning of a Fulani settlement in Igangan.

Saraki, in a statement, said the silence was a dangerous tell-tale sign that things were wrong.

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He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rally all interests and everybody at the leadership levels to a round table to discuss and find appropriate solutions, saying insecurity had become the order of the day and fueling disunity and criminal activities.

He urged all Nigerians to work for peace and take initiatives that could douse tension.

“Both the elite and ordinary people have a responsibility to begin to take measures that’ll reassure the people across board that a united Nigeria will benefit everybody better than a disintegrated country,” he said.

He said the relevance of Nigeria in the international community was due to her size, population and collective resources.

“I know some politicians will not be able to contribute ideas if they are not called upon to do so by those who currently have governmental responsibility to do so. However, please don’t keep quiet when called upon.

“We must all intervene as patriots and forget our personal interests. For the sake of our forebears who handed over this country to us, we must work hard to make things better so that when we meet them, we’ll have a good account to give that we improved on what was handed over to us.

“In the meantime, let all stakeholders speak up on the danger confronting and diminishing our great country. The attitude of keeping quiet and ‘Sidon look’ while waiting for the next election to start making promises will not help anyone. What type of election or country are we going to have in 2023 if the current situation persists? A stitch in time saves nine,” he added.

Saraki also called on Senate President Ahmed Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to provide far-reaching legislative intervention that would help the executive arm in the search for peace.

“This is a period that require all hands to be on deck. This is not the time to talk of APC or PDP. It’s a time for all to work for Nigeria. This is a problem for all and should be solved by all.”