Nigeria’s Unity Is Settled, Not Negotiable — Buhari By Dafe Rukevwe

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable, saying that in the course of his stay in the United Kingdom during his medical vacation, he kept daily touch with events at home.

The President who made this disclosure during a live nationwide broadcast of an address added that: “We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.

He said: “In 2003, after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.”

He continued: “Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.”

According to him, a vast majority of Nigerians share this view.

He continued: “This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.

“The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.”

On the issue of recent strikes by Boko Haram, he charged the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.

“Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.

“Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against; elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes;  in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all,” he said.

He urged the citizenry to “eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of; economic security, political evolution and integration; as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.”

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Nigeria after spending 103 days in London, on Saturday, August 19, 2017.