Osinbajo reads riot act to culprits of hate speech

 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday read a riot act to those calling for the secession of Nigerians of Ibo extraction leaving in the Northern region of the country.

Osinbajo said the government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of the country through hate speeches or acts of violence.

Addressing Leaders of thought from Northern States of Nigeria over the eviction notice issued to Nigerians of Ibo extraction living in the North Osinbajo said ” I want to emphasize that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins”.

He said the meeting which was called as an emergency was the first in a series of consultations that will follow in the next days. This has become imperative following recent loud noises noises of hate, division and the agitation for secession by a group of persons from the North by way of an ultimatum, Osinbajo said noting that the government cannot choose to ignore it but address it quickly.

According to him “every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets that are unintended. So I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended”.

He however noted that because of the diverse nature of the country, there was bound to be misunderstandings and frustrations and people will always want to get the best part of the deal but those who have seen wars know that it does not end and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.

“This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines, moments like this are not for isolating ourselves, I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together”.

He reiterated that as a “government we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speech or divisive behavior where it is illegal will be met with the full force of the law.

“And I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property we are no longer in control. Those who make those speeches are no longer in control” he added.

The Acting President said he will be meeting thought leaders from the South East on Wednesday, Traditional and religious leaders from the North on Sunday and traditional and some religious leaders from the South East on Friday “So this will be a fairly broad consultation” the Acting President said.

Those at the consultative meeting include the Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olanishakin, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum and former IGP Ibrahim Comassie, Ango Abdullahi, former governor Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako and former deputy governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen.

Others are the Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Ndah-Isaiah, Paul Unongo, AVM Murkar and Chairman Liberty Radio/Television, Tijani Ramalan, the Editor in Chief of Daily Trust, Dan Ali, Former Chief of Defence Staff, Martin Luther Agwai, among others.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) youth group had issued a three months eviction notice to Igbos living in the 19 Northern States to quit or be forced out after expiration of the October 1, 2017 deadline.

The ultimatum was issued by a coalition of Northern groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum issued the ultimatum. The ultimatum had been issued following a successful sit-at-home order enforced by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra on May 30, 2017 which the five South-East states complied with.

 

 

Elizabeth Archibong