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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said the unity of the country would not be open to any negotiation because it has already been settled.
The President, in his first statement to Nigerians added that political mischief makers who were fuelling ethnic violence would be dealt with .
Buhari , who said he was not against legitimate concerns , noted that different groups must air their grievances and work out a mode of co -existence.
“The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse,” he added .
The President said he had been monitoring developments in Nigeria from London , adding that some comments , especially on the social media , crossed the national red line by questioning the nation ’s continued existence.
He said terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of Nigerians could live in peace and safety .
The President said his administration would reinforce and reinvigorate the fight against elements of Boko Haram, which he said , were attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets .
The speech read in part, “I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers . I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters .
Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs , but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments , especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation . This is a step too far .
In 2003 after I joined partisan politics , the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura . Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.
Nigeria ’s unity is settled long time ago and not negotiable . We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood .
Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance .
I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view .
This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns . Every group has a grievance . But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co -existence .
The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.
The national consensus is that , it is better to live together than to live apart .
Furthermore, I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax .
Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety .
Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against ; elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets , kidnappings , farmers versus herdsmen clashes ; in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers . We shall tackle them all .
Finally , dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of ; economic security , political evolution and integration ; as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians .
I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained . I am so glad to be home .”
Meanwhile , Socio - cultural groups have advised President Buhari to act on the agitations over restructuring of the country .
Afenifere and the Ijaw National Congress , in separate interviews on Sunday with The PUNCH said restructuring , among other issues , was what they expected the President to immediately address .
Although there had been calls for restructuring before Buhari travelled out of the country on May 7 , the agitation had increased with groups asking Nigerians of other tribes to leave their areas before October 1 .
Afenifere said the best decision Buhari could take was to facilitate the process of restructuring the country , adding that Buhari might be the last President of a united Nigeria if he failed to respond to the yearnings of the people .
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere , Yinka Odumakin , said , “Looking at the agitations for restructuring , nearly every section of the country has waded in , including former heads of state and a former Vice– President. He ( Buhari ) must facilitate a process of addressing this matter if he did not want to be the last President of Nigeria .”
Odumakin observed that the President had failed to record any meaningful result in his anti -corruption campaign and other programmes , noting that he could , however , achieve success with restructuring the country .
Asked about the opposition of the North , particularly the North - West to restructuring , Afenifere said the region could not hold the nation to ransom .
Odumakin said , “To save the republic; to keep this country together , he ( Buhari ) must facilitate the process of addressing restructuring now.
“In the last two years , he has attempted everything in the book , he did not record success . In the anti -corruption war , only one person was convicted and the Appeal Court has quashed it. So , the only thing he can do is to start the process of uniting the country where everyone would have confidence .”
The INC said the 16 - point agenda by the Pan -Niger Delta Forum , which was submitted to the Federal Government , had a link with restructuring .
INC spokesman , Mr . Miebaka Tamunomiebi , stated that in spite of the fact that the Ijaw were the fourth largest ethnic group in the country , they had not been getting what they deserved from the Federal Government .
“Our position on restructuring has been in the public domain for a very long time . The INC is part of the 16 -point agenda submitted to the Presidency .
“The basic clamour is that people have not been getting what they should get and if there is any clamour for that to change , we are at the forefront of it.
“We are the fourth largest tribe in Nigeria , but it has not reflected in any of the thing they ( FG) have done . It has not reflected in state creation; it has not reflected in anything . Our position has always been the same ; that we have been short -changed in the Nigerian business .”
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