Buhari Responds to Biafra Agitators

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday lashed out at agitators for a break-up of the Southeast from the federation in the name Biafra.

Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, is on trial for treason at the Federal high court in Abuja.

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabiru Usman, as part of the activities of his official visit to his home state, the President recalled that over two million Nigerians were killed during the 30-month civil war between 1967 and 1970.

He said his administration would ensure continuous existence of Nigeria as a united entity.

“I always say the civil war was fought for the unity of Nigeria because then we hadn’t even discovered oil let alone enjoying it. But two million people were killed,” he said.

The President added:  “the way the Sahara is advancing, with Boko Haram, growing number of people and uncertainty over rainfall, in a land where we fought civil war leading to the death of about two million, for someone to just say he will chase us out? So where do we go?”

The President who admitted that he knows the difficulties that Nigerians are passing through said government was doing everything possible to change the fortunes of the nation for the better.

He urged Nigerians who have land to embrace farming “while those who don’t have should learn a trade”.

He urged traditional rulers to spearhead the campaign for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the diverse socio-political groups in the country.

He said the call had become imperative in view of the activities of some groups which are preaching hatred, disunity and divisive tendencies among Nigerians for their selfish motives.

He enjoined all Nigerians to always ignore those individuals and groups calling for the break-up of Nigeria.

He also called on community leaders across the country to introduce monthly or quarterly meeting in their respective communities to address issues concerning their welfare.

According to him, such meeting will provide solutions to some challenges facing the people rather than awaiting government intervention to resolve such problems.

President Buhari enjoined leaders to always be honest and straightforward while dealing with the people in order to ensure good upbringing of the younger ones in the society.

The Emir accused the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan of abandoning the contract for dredging of River Niger noting: “inland water way is the wealth of the nation and these people don’t want it here”.

Emir Kabir who urged residents to intensify prayers for the president said there are enemies within and outside.

“We know there are saboteurs but we will finish them with prayers” the Emir said and requested for the renovation of dams in the state so as to boost irrigation farming and water supply.

The President paid a similar visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, where he reassured Nigerians that his administration would continue to promote programmes and policies that would ensure unity, stability and development of the country.

According to him, the 2016 Budget of Change, just signed into law, represents a major step in delivering a new opportunity for Nigeria.