President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja explained that the policy
proposed by Federal Government in response to the frequent clashes between
herdsmen and farmers in the country is not meant to colonize any part of
the country.
Receiving Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Archbishop
Ignatius Kaigama, President Buhari said the intention of government is to
create grazing locations for cattle rearers, which has now been
misconstrued as another form of colonization.
President Buhari regretted that the well-thought out policy of the Federal
Government, which was conceived after wide consultations with
stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.
He, however, assured the Catholic Bishops that the Federal Government will
continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure
peace and stability in restive areas.
Condemning recent spate of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara
states, the President said security operatives would ensure prosecution of
perpetrators and all those found with illegal arms in the affected areas.
‘‘The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office
and home, enjoying myself while these things happened, is dishonest.
‘‘At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the
experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the
four divisions of the Nigerian army, in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos.
‘‘I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get
law enforcement agencies to be on alert,’’ he said.
The President told the Catholic Bishops that he would not be tired of
recounting remarkable progress recorded in the areas of security, economy
and the fight against corruption.
‘‘We have done very well on security in the North East, when you compare
what the condition was before we came in and what it is now.
‘‘On the economy, particularly agriculture, I am very pleased that God
answered the prayers of Nigerians who prayed for bountiful harvest.
‘‘People have taken advantage of Federal Government policies and
programmes to return to the farm and they have not regretted,’’ he said.
On the fight against corruption, the President reiterated that government
would be guided by the law in the investigation and prosecution of all
graft-related cases.
‘‘People are being prosecuted systematically with evidence.
‘‘If a permanent secretary has five houses in Abuja, two in Kaduna and one
in Borno and Sokoto and he can’t account for the properties and there are
bank transactions linking him to the properties, the prosecuting agencies
will not have difficulties to make progress on the case.”
On the question of Federal character, the President declared that no
ethnic group or political zone has been deliberately marginalised in the
appointments made so far.
He, however, added that he would take a second look at areas on which
issues have been raised, when a compendium of all government appointments
is submitted to him.
In his remarks, Archbishop Kaigama pledged that the Catholic Church in
Nigeria would continue to support the Buhari administration and make its
contribution to nation-building through prayers, admonitions and
assistance to needy Nigerians.
‘‘As the voice of the people, we shall continue to highlight the plight of
our people and play our prophetic role of sensitising the government, thus
promoting good governance, national unity and cohesion,’’ Kaigama said.