Don’t take Nigeria’s diversity for granted, Osinbajo tells agitators

.Says FG not deaf to agitations

.Wants grievances expressed without scorn

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday charged those with grievances in the country to express them graciously without any disdain as he reiterated that “government is not deaf to such agitations.”

Osinbajo also maintained that government will not hesitate to unleash security agencies on those who continue to threaten the sovereignty of the country or lives and livelihoods of fellow Nigerians living in any part of the country.

The Acting President re-echoed the warning during a meeting with traditional rulers from the 19 Northern states as part of continuous consultations to douse ethnic tensions in the country.

The meeting earlier scheduled for Monday was postponed to Tuesday as a result of an oversight in the invitation of participants.

Osinbajo, who spoke before the meeting which lasted for about two hours went into closed door, acknowledged that there were frustrations and grievances which should not have degenerated to the type of hate speeches being witnessed now in the country.

He advised the royal fathers to counsel ‘misguided youths’ who believe they could say anything without any consequences.

However, Osinbajo assured that government will ensure a conducive environment for every ethnic or religious group to thrive peacefully.

He said: “As Royal Fathers and Leaders, you will agree with me that we all have a role to play in countering the voices of divisiveness, and the elements who seek to take us down a bloody path.

“Let us continue to counsel the misguided elements among our youth, who think that ethnic confrontation is a game and that words can be thrown around carelessly without repercussion.

“Having said this, 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.”
Osinbajo added that: “As Royal Fathers and Traditional Leaders, your place and your role in our society and nation is significant. You are the custodians of our cultures and traditions, and living embodiments of our rich heritage.

“You are, by virtue of your vast knowledge, wisdom and experience, both a vital link with our past, and an important guarantee for the success of our future. This is why your role in national affairs is critical.

“The reason for these series of meetings is well known to all of us: it became necessary in the wake of a spate of divisive statements, in recent months and weeks, pitting the South East against the North.

“We are all aware of the so-called ‘ultimatum’ issued by a group of Northern youths, asking that all Igbos living in the North vacate the region.

“Before then, there was the clamour, and it’s still ongoing by some South-Eastern youths, operating as IPOB – an affiliated group, demanding secession from Nigeria at all costs and by any means.”

According to him, in the previous meetings with other stakeholders, it was agreed that the best thing for the country is for it to remain together.

“In all our previous engagements with Northern and South-Eastern leaders, we all came to the consensus that Nigeria is stronger and better together, and that these hate-speech and divisive rhetoric and agitations are unjustifiable, unacceptable and often times illegal. And I would like to reiterate that today.

“Nigeria has seen enough violence and bloodshed in its history, the price of our unity has already been paid in the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians,” the Acting President stressed.

Osinbajo also assured the royal fathers that government is available to listen to suggestions and answer any question “and very importantly, to reassure everyone that we are committed to the unity of Nigeria, and that upon the foundation of that unity we can together build a prosperous and great country.”

He said no one should take the nation’s diversity for granted as it is an instrument for binding the country together.

Osinbajo reaffirmed: “We must never take our diversity for granted; the fullness of our strength actually lies in that diversity. And we must wield that diversity, not as divisive tool, but instead as a binding agent.

“As we round up these consultations tomorrow with a meeting with governors, it is clear to me that we are all resolved to by words, conduct and action; promote the unity of our dear nation.

“On our part as government, let me say that we will ensure that the entire apparatus of government is deployed to ensure that no one threatens Nigeria’s territorial integrity, that no one threatens the lives or livelihoods of any Nigerian living anywhere in the Federation.

“Our objective is to provide the environment for a prosperous nation, a nation where all regardless of ethnicity or religion can pursue their legitimate aspirations peacefully and securely.”
Speaking to State House Correspondents later, Etsu Nupe said that the traditional rulers have pledged to ensure the unity of Nigeria.

He said Osinbajo urged them to educate the younger generation about the history of the nation and the civil war which led to the loss of lives and properties.

The Acting President noted that most of those agitating were young people who do not know the history of the country.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, led other prominent monarchs to the meeting. Amongst them were: Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; the representative of the Emir of Katsina, Prof. Sani Lugard (Waziri Katsina); HRH (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe, Niger State; Alhaji Ibrahim Sule Gambari, Emir of Ilorin, Kwara State; HRH Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II, Emir of Lafia, Nasarawa State and HRH Alhaji Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama representing Shehu of Borno.

Others were HRH Jacob Buba Gyang, Gbong Gwon Jos; HRH Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, Emir of Gombe; HRH Ndakwo Ameh Oboni II, Attah Igala, Kogi State; HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Abali, Emir of Fika, Yobe State; HRM Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed Muhammed, Emir of Zamfara; HRH Professor James Ayatse, Tor Tiv, Benue State; and HRH Alhaji Adamu Buba Baba Yinusa, Emir of Abaji, FCT.

Others include HRH Alhaji Muhammed Isah Muhammed, Emir of Jama in Kaduna State; HRH Justice Lawal Hassan, Emir of Gumi and coordinator of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council; HRH Alhaji Emmanuel, Etsu Karu of the FCT and Sakaruyi of Karu, Dr. Emmanuel Kyauta Yekwi.

Some top officials of government in attendance include: representative of Senate President and Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Alla; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

Also amongst them were Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin; National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno.

The Daily Times gathered that the Monday meeting was called off when the Presidency realised that only Muslim traditional rulers led by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III were on ground.

The Presidency had said that the postponement became necessary to enable proper arrangements to get other relevant Northern royal fathers to the meeting.

The tensions climaxed recently when Arewa youths issued a three-month quit notice to Igbos living in the region, after a sit-at-home exercise called by pro-Biafra secessionists on May 30, 2017 to mark 50 years of defunct breakaway Republic of Biafra in the South East.