President Muhammadu Buhari on
Thursday said the impression that he was folding his arms over the recent spate
of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba and Zamfara States was dishonest.
The president stated this at the
Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving Catholic Bishops
Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.
Buhari, according to a statement
by his spokesman Mr Femi Adesina, condemned the killings, saying 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,’’ the president said.
He explained that the policy
proposed by Federal Government in response to the frequent clashes between
herdsmen and farmers in the country was not meant to colonize any part of the
country.
President Buhari clarified that
the intention of government was to create grazing locations for cattle rearers
which, he said, had been misconstrued as another form of colonization.
He 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 woulf continue to explore all opportunities
and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.
Buhari also stated 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.
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