President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his government will not condone the abuse of the political freedom which his government has engendered in the country’s system since the beginning of his administration.
In obvious reference to the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, for a Biafra nation, the president said an example of the abuse of the freedom was the call by some groups for the dismembering of the country.
President Buhari who spoke on the occasion of Nigeria’s 57thindependence anniversary on Sunday said the call for restructuring was proper in a legitimate debate but must not be allowed to degenerate into dividing the country.
He said dialogue requiring necessary fundamental constitutional changes would best be held at the federal and state legislative houses.
According to him, such debates could not be made properly at other places in some undemocratic forms with some pre-determined set objectives.
The president also said it was unfortunate that elders in the communities where the call for disintegration was being championed did not caution the youth of the dire consequences the country faced in a similar experience in the past.
His words: “In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom. A political Party at the Centre losing elections of State Governor, National Assembly seat and even State Assemblies to the opposition parties is new to Nigeria. Added to these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly attest to the country’s growing political development. But like all freedoms, this is open to abuse.
“Recent calls on re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy.
“As a young Army Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.
“I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.
“At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-determined set of objectives.”
The president disclosed that his government had continued to dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta to ensure peace.
According to him, the government was committed to addressing the genuine grievances of the communities.
Buhari also touched on major areas his government has remained committed in order to make life better in the country.
Speaking on its efforts in the fight against corruption, the president said his government was committed to fighting corruption to a standstill despite the fact that corruption had been fighting back.
He listed some of the major instruments of the battle against corruption as the empowering of teams of prosecutors, assemblage of detailed databases and the acceleration of the recovery of stolen funds.
He said some of the reforms carried out to ensure success, included enforcing Treasury Single Account, Whistle-Blowers Policy, Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System.
On the fight battle to ensure security of lives and property, the president praised the security agencies for their spirited efforts which had neutralized the terrorists group, Boko Haram.
He said, however that the military was not resting on its oars.
“Our Armed Forces in an effort to enhance the operational capability of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have established Mobile Strike Teams in the North East. These will ensure the final push to wipe out the remnants of Boko Haram,” he said.
In the area of the economy, Buhari said “the Government has remained pro-active in its diversification policy. The Federal Government’s agricultural Anchor Borrowers Programme, which I launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with:
*N43.92 billion released through the CBN and 13 participating institutions,
*200,000 small holder farmers from 29 states of the federation benefitting,
- 233,000 hectares of farmland cultivating eight commodities, namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.”
He added that the initiatives had been undertaken in close collaboration with the states.
“I wish to commend the efforts of the Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa States for their support to the rice and fertilizer revolutions.
“Equally commendable are contributions of the Governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States for their support for the Presidential initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and others crops.
“With the abundance of rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed Divine intervention.”
