Buhari directs security agencies to deal with sponsors of political violence in Rivers State

 

Ahead of the re-run elections in Rivers state, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies in the country to deal decisively with all sponsors of political violence in the State.

The President who condemned the recent political violence in Rivers State, described the killing of people over political differences as 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,” a statement by Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina, quoted the President as saying during an interactive meeting with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.

President Buhari said 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.