By Abba Gwale
The Immediate past Senate President and former Kwara state governor, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wazirin Ilorin, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to provide measures that will reassure every Nigerian that his government is working on the problems of the country and nobody should lose interest in a united, peaceful, and progressive Nigeria.
Saraki said this in a statement released by his office concerning the current security threats facing the country.
This is coming on the heels of a recent pronouncement by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who had given one week ultimatum to Fulani herders to leave the forests of the state, a move that got an immediate reaction from the Presidency warning the governor about the effects of his threat on the peaceful coexistence of the country.
“I have watched with concern the recent development in Oyo and Ondo States in which quit notices were given to Fulani herders and there were subsequent burning of the property of the Fulani herdsmen in some parts of Oyo State. These happenings have increased the tension and unduly raised the temperature in the country,” said Saraki.
“The ugly development in these two states are symptomatic of the continued threat to the unity of our country that we have witnessed on a higher scale in recent times and in different parts of the country, including the South-East and South-South zones,” he added.
Saraki further said, “I strongly appeal to all of us to work for peace and take initiatives that can douse tension. Both the elite and ordinary people have a responsibility to begin to take measures that will reassure the people across the board that a united Nigeria will benefit everybody better than a disintegrated country.”
Saraki also said the deafening silence by key stakeholders, leaders and others who he thinks should speak out is worrisome and the silence is a dangerous tell-tale sign that things are wrong, adding that it is not good for the country.”
“We must all speak out and talk about the solution to this twin-problem of insecurity and threat to national unity,” he continued.
Saraki emphasized that, “We all do not have another country to call our own other than this one country, Nigeria. We need to live in peace with each other and it is my prayer that Almighty God will continue to preserve the unity of the country. I have the conviction that there are many more things that unite us than the few points that cause disagreement among us.”
He then cited an example with his cosmopolitan family, “Let me use my case as an example of why this country should continue to grow as one united and progressive entity. I am of Fulani origin and have a Yoruba mother. My father was a Muslim and my mother is Christian. Thus, I am affected on all sides by any inter-ethnic tension in this country. I am sure there are many Nigerians that are in a similar situation.”
He called for unity, saying, “a united Nigeria is better for the entire world than a disintegrated country. The relevance of Nigeria in the international community is due to its size, population, and collective resources. Any attempt at disintegration removes the cloak of importance around Nigeria in the global community. We must all strive to douse the tension and keep our country together.”
Saraki used the opportunity to advise President Buhari to seek inputs of all stakeholders on how to address the security challenges in the country.
He also called on Buhari to adopt a bipartisan approach, and the leadership of National Assembly to come up with far-reaching legislation that will help in stabilizing the country.
