Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has warned that the government will clamp down on all those beating the drum of war in the country.
He gave the warning at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday while meeting northern leaders over the perennial agitation for Biafra and last week’s reaction by northern youths asking the Igbos to vacate the region by October 1.
However, sources told Daily Trust that the northern elders made their position known to the government, insisting that those who engage in hate speech and continue to threaten secession must be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The acting president said while some people might say the ultimatum should be ignored, “it is important we address it promptly.”
He vowed that the government would not tolerate any attempt by anyone to disrupt the peace of the country and cautioned against hate and divisive speech.
He said: “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets that are not intended. So, I want us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended.
“As part of living together, I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal, but we must be careful to recognize that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything if we are together in peace.
“These days, wars do not end, and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.
“This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines. Moments like this are not for isolating ourselves. I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together.”
The acting president said the government was determined to ensure the unity of Nigeria.
“And I want to say that hate and divisive speech or divisive behaviour, where it is illegal, will be met with the full force of the law.
“And I want to assure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that no one will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause division or that can cause violence, especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncements and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property, we are no longer in control. Those who make those speeches are no longer in control.
“So, I want to emphasise that government will take very seriously, any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins.”
Osinbajo said he would hold a similar consultative meeting with south eastern leaders today to be followed by another one with traditional rulers from the east and the north on Friday and Sunday respectively.
Our source at the meeting also said the leaders agreed that the unity of the country was not negotiable and condemned the call for the breakup of the country being agitated by groups.
The source said, “It was sort of a dialogue whereby issues that have to do with the secession agitation were thoroughly discussed. We all agreed on the oneness of the country.
“There was general consensus that leaders across board should promote the unity of the country among their followers. We also agreed that the law should take its course as there cannot be another country within the country”.
What northern leaders told Acting President
Sources told Daily Trust that northern leaders at the meeting stated their position “in clear terms” to the Acting President. They called on the government to assert its powers by taking action against whoever violates the law.
Some of the elders were not happy that their South East counterparts have failed to rein in on their youths some of whom have been committing treason in the course of their agitation.
Daily Trust also learnt that the leaders agreed that the unity of the country was not negotiable and condemned the call for the break-up of the country as being agitated by some groups.
“It was sort of a dialogue whereby issues that have to do with the secession agitation were thoroughly discussed. We all agreed on the oneness of the country.
“There was general consensus that leaders across board should promote the unity of the country among their followers. We also agreed that the law should take its course as there cannot be another country within the country”.
The Acting President will also meet with leaders of South East, as well as traditional and religious rulers.
The meeting was attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olanishakin, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali and Interior Minister Abdurahman Dambazzau.
Also in attendance were Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum and former IGP Ibrahim Comassie, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former governor Sokoto State Senator Aliyu Wamako, former deputy governor of Plateau State Mrs Pauline Tallen.
Martin Luther Agwai, Paul Unongo, the Secretary-General of the JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, National chairman of Izala Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau; AVM Muktar Mohammed, Chairman Liberty Radio/Television Tijjani Ramalan; Chief Executive Office of Media Trust Malam Mannir Dan-Ali and Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Ndah-Isaiah, among others.
Security chiefs to protect Nigerians
Meanwhile, Osinbajo has instructed security chiefs to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians wherever they may be in the country.
His spokesman, Laolu Akande, said via Twitter yesterday that Osinbajo gave the directive at a meeting with the security chiefs over the weekend.
“The Acting President met, over the weekend, with security chiefs and gave them firm instructions on the need to protect lives and property of all Nigerians, everywhere,” Akande tweeted.
