In continuation of his consultations with
Northern and South East leaders regarding
ethnic agitations from groups from both
regions, acting president Yemi Osinbajo
Tuesday had a meeting with traditional
rulers from the North at the presidential
villa in Abuja.
At the meeting, Osinbajo said concerns and
frustration of every region must be
expressed graciously and maturely rather
than with disdain and scorn that has
characterized most of the actions and
utterances of some of the ethnic groups in
the country.
“Having said this, let me say that we
are not deaf to the legitimate
concerns and frustrations arising
from around the country. Every part
of Nigeria has its own grievances. But
these have to be expressed
graciously and managed with
mutuality rather than with scorn and
disdain.” Read his full text of his
speech after the cut
I welcome you, our royal fathers,
elders and leaders, to this important
meeting. I thank you for taking the
time to respond to our invitation to
dialogue and engage with us. Your
demonstration of commitment and
leadership is heartwarming, and I
have no doubt that we will all be
enriched by our interaction today.
This meeting is the third in a series
that commenced last week. I have
met with Leaders of Thought from
the North, and Leaders of Thought
from the Southeast, and on Sunday
with Traditional Rulers from the
South-East. Yesterday you graciously
consented to joining us at the Iftar,
ahead of today’s meeting.
As Royal Fathers and Traditional
Leaders, your place and your role in
our society and nation is significant.
You are the custodians of our
cultures and traditions, and living
embodiments of our rich heritage.
You are, by virtue of your vast
knowledge, wisdom and experience,
both a vital link with our past, and an
important guarantee for the success
of our future. This is why your role in
national affairs is critical.
The reason for these series of
meetings is well known to all of us: it
became necessary in the wake of a
spate of divisive statements, in recent
months and weeks, pitting the South-
East against the North. We are all
aware of the so-called ‘ultimatum’
issued by a group of Northern
youths, asking that all Igbos living in
the North vacate the region.
Before then, there was the clamour –
and it’s still ongoing – by some South-
Eastern youths, operating as IPOB
and affiliated groups, demanding
secession from Nigeria.
In all our previous engagements with
Northern and South-Eastern leaders,
we all came to the consensus that
Nigeria is stronger and better
together, and that these hate-filled
and divisive rhetoric and agitations
are unjustifiable, unacceptable and
often times illegal. And I would like to
reiterate that today.
Nigeria has seen enough violence
and bloodshed in its history, the price
of our unity has already been paid in
the blood and lives of hundreds of
thousands of soldiers and civilians.
President Muhammadu Buhari spoke
of his commitment to one Nigeria as
arising from his experience in the
Military, where he fought side by side
with Nigerians of every tribe and
faith. He said “we protected each
other, put our lives on the line for
each other, we were brothers even in
the face of death.” This is the type of
nation we must maintain.
As Royal Fathers and Leaders, I think
you will agree with me that we all
have a role to play in countering the
voices of divisiveness, and the
elements who seek to take us down a
bloody path.
Let us continue to counsel the
misguided elements among our
youth, who think that ethnic
confrontation is a game and that
words can be thrown around
carelessly without repercussion.
Having said this, let me say that we
are not deaf to the legitimate
concerns and frustrations arising
from around the country. Every part
of Nigeria has its own grievances. But
these have to be expressed
graciously and managed with
mutuality rather than with scorn and
disdain.
I would like to assure you all that we
are here to listen and to answer, and,
very importantly, to reassure
everyone that we are committed to
the unity of Nigeria, and that upon
the foundation of that unity we can
together build a prosperous and
great country.
