President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he’s an
unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people.
Buhari said the contentious issue of restructuring, true
federalism or devolution of powers remains a constitutional matter only the
National Assembly can deal with.
He spoke while receiving members of the Nigerian
Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His
Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President of Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, at the State
House.
A statement by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina quoted him
as saying: “On the contentious issue of restructuring or true federalism or
devolution of powers, as you all know, this is a constitutional matter with
which only the National Assembly can deal.
“I remain an unapologetic believer in devolving power to the
people and that is why I signed the Executive Order granting autonomy to State
Legislature and Judiciary. Unfortunately, this was met with some resistance at
the state level and led to more than two months of strike action that has cost
the country a lot of pain.
“Luckily the National Assembly has nearly completed the
constitutional review process, which I hope would address some of the burning
issues agitating the minds of our people.’’
President Buhari assured that efforts were already on to
create a more conducive environment to address both direct and indirect causes
of challenges including areas of job creation and employment generation while
appreciating religious leaders for their significant roles in national
development, particularly in shaping perspectives.
“Your role is critical in putting the correct perspective
out to Nigerians,’’ he said.
On security, the President told the religious leaders that
the government was already going after financiers of criminal elements, who
also supply them with arms, but were constrained by the strike by Judiciary
workers.
“Fortunately, this strike has been called off and
prosecution of some of these people would soon commence, while our security
agencies expand their network in closing in on the others,’’ he added.
”The administration remains committed to “quickly pushing
this dark side of our history behind us and we are currently making sure that
funding would not hamper our efforts’’ Buhari said.
He said the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved
some funds for the security agencies, which would be put to judicious use.
“As I mentioned yesterday, in Lagos, we would not relent in
our efforts at clearing these criminals from all parts of our land including
the forests,’’ he said.
President Buhari said the government had the major part to
play in providing security, adding: “but besides the imperative to abide by
democratic processes is the important aspect of support of the citizenry to the
security agencies by providing relevant and timely information.’’
“I must confess that I am more pained than anyone can
imagine with the ongoing security challenges because, like you noted during
your meeting, they have increased the hunger, pain and anger in the land,’’ he
noted.
The President thanked the religious leaders for their
patriotism and commitment to ensuring peace and understanding.
“I have listened to you and I am particularly happy that
your meeting clearly identified specific and major roles for both the
Government and the people of Nigeria. This is what has been lacking for some
time in the national discourse on addressing our current security challenges.’’
In their comments, NIREC, led by Sultan of Sokoto, His
Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and President of Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, thanked the President for
the onerous assignment of leading the country and advised the government to
fund the armed forces better to confront the myriad of security challenges
facing the country, block sources of illegal arms, publish names of those who
fund terrorism and try them.
They also canvassed the recruitment of more policemen,
strengthening the judiciary, tackling unemployment by creating jobs for youths
particularly, and on separatist agitations in the country, NIREC said: “It is
in our togetherness that we are stronger.”
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