President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Malabo condemned recent political
violence in Rivers State, saying that the killing of people over political
differences was primitive, barbaric and unacceptable.
“We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the
security services clear directives in this regard.
“We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated
before, during or after elections,” the President said at an interactive
meeting with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.
President Buhari said that the Independent National Electoral Commission
will be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting
in the 2019 general elections.
Noting that some African countries have started allowing their citizens
resident abroad to vote in national elections, the President said that he
fully empathised with the desire of Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in
national elections.
President Buhari pledged that he will therefore do all within his
powers to fulfil that desire.
“I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to
choose their leaders,” he said
The President also said that establishing a new national airline was not
currently on the Federal Government’s list of priorities.
President Buhari declared that his administration’s main area of focus now
was reducing the level of poverty in the country.
The President said that developing the infrastructure needed to boost
production in all sectors of the economy and create more jobs for young
Nigerians, as well as other actions that will directly improve the living
conditions of ordinary Nigerians will continue to be prioritized by his
administration.
President Buhari was responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian
community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and
Equatorial Guinea.
The President assured them that his administration’s war against
corruption will remain “fearless, relentless and merciless”.
“We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused
public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run
the nation down,” he said.