The Presidency in its characteristic manner has once again blamed the killings across the country on politicians.
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, evidence has been discovered linking politicians to the herdsmen/farmers crisis in the country.
Mr. Garba said in a press statement on Sunday in Abuja, “As President (Muhammadu) Buhari indicated lately, there is evidence of involvement of some politicians using criminals to perpetuate the killings,”
He further appealed to the public to refrain from spreading false stories and inflammatory statements regarding the recent herder-farmer clashes because the Nigerian Government is working closely with state governments and the security services, as well as international partners in order to resolve the issue.
The President’s spokesman noted in the usual sing-song that the clashes between herders and farmers were historical while the causes of the recent confrontations witnessed were complex and varied.
He further noted that climate change, specifically the desertification of the Chad Basin has put more pressure on the population in the northern part of the country further compounding the problem.
He maintained that the Federal Government does not discriminate between Nigerians and is working tirelessly to protect all Nigerian people. He said…
“We are strongest as a nation when we are united and it is through unity that we will overcome this challenge,”
This statement comes on the heels of President Buhari’s meeting with members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from the 19 northern states and Abuja at the Presidential Villa.
In that meeting, the President had reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bringing violent conflicts in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara and other flash-points to a decisive end.
According to the President, “Government can achieve lasting peace only with the sincere and active cooperation of communities, religious leaders, youths and other stakeholders. These include the Media in whose hands lies the power to frame, shape the perspectives and narratives which influence the thinking of millions of people within and outside Nigeria”.
He continued….
“Let us collectively shame those who are stoking the fires of ethnic and religious conflicts for their short-term political gains. This country belongs equally to Christians and Muslims and even those who claim ignorance of God,”
The President had told the Christian leaders on Thursday that his administration was working tirelessly to bring peace to Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
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