According to Femi Adeshina
BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU
BUHARI,
AUGUST 21, 2017.
My dear citizens,
I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for
their prayers. I am pleased to be back on home
soil among my brothers and sisters.
2. In the course of my stay in the United
Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with
events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively
in discussing their affairs, but I was distressed to
notice that some of the comments, especially in
the social media have crossed our national red
lines by daring to question our collective
existence as a nation. This is a step too far.
3. 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.
4. Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable.
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.
5. Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue
his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or
hindrance.
6. I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians
share this view.
7. 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.
8. The National Assembly and the National
Council of State are the legitimate and
appropriate bodies for national discourse.
9. The national consensus is that, it is better to
live together than to live apart.
10. Furthermore, I am charging the Security
Agencies not to let the successes achieved in
the last 18 months be a sign to relax.
11. Terrorists and criminals must be fought and
destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us
can live in peace and safety.
12. 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.
13. Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest
now is 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.
14. I remain resolutely committed to ensuring
that these goals are achieved and maintained. I
am so glad to be home.
15. Thank you and may God bless our dear
Nation.
