President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined all Nigerians to disregard recent calls by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to Fulani herdsmen, urging them to leave the southern region of the country.
The elders from the northern part of the country had called on Fulani herders plying their trade the southern part of Nigeria to return back home if their safety is no longer guaranteed.
Chairman of the forum, Ango Abdulahi who made the announcement in a meeting with the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNGs) was also quoted saying there was a move by some “trouble elements” to harm herdsmen in the southern part of the country.
The coalition who had given the southern governors ultimatum to reconsider the Ruga initiative also threatened to evict southerners over the federal government’s suspension of the controversial scheme.
But President Buhari has urged all Nigerians to ignore the call adding that all the citizens of the country has the right move and live anywhere within Nigeria.
Related: Come back home, Northern elders urge herdsmen to relocate from the south
“All citizens of Nigeria are free to move and live within any part of the country they please, whether or not they are originally from there.
“In line with our country’s constitution, the government of Nigeria and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will protect citizens of Nigeria wherever they find themselves.
Read also We won’t give out our ‘ancestral’ land for Ruga – IPOB dares Arewa youths
“No one has the right to ask anyone or group to depart from any part of the country, whether north, south, east or west,” the President said.
In a statement on behalf of the President, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu questioned the intentions of the NEF and the other so-called leaders in delving into issues with unsolicited, ill-intentioned advice.
“They have no one’s authority to make such pronouncements.
“The polarising role of the Northern Elders Forum and all those other groups dabbling into issues of security to score cheap political points has for long been a sore point in Nigeria’s body polity.
“They should not be allowed to mislead anyone, least of all the Fulani herders.
“The Buhari administration is fully devoted to finding a lasting solution to the herder-farmer clashes in different parts of Nigeria- one that would be acceptable to all the parties involved.”
The President, therefore, calls on all Nigerians to help keep the peace in the country.
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