President Muhammadu Buhari says he is disappointed
in some community leaders who failed to caution
“hot-headed” youth calling for the dismemberment of
the country.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been
seeking a sovereign state, citing marginalisation of
Igbo people as its reason.

In his Independence Day broadcast, Buhari said his
government will not and cannot allow such advocacy.
Recalling his days in the army, Buhari said most of
those calling for the division were not born during the
tragic civil war, which led to the loss of two million
lives.

“As a young army officer, I took part from the
beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing
about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and
untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a re-run
were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the
horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we
went through,” he said.

“I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of
these communities do not warn their hot-headed
youths what the country went through. Those who
were there should tell those who were not there, the
consequences of such folly.

“At all events, proper dialogue and any desired
constitutional changes should take place in a rational
manner, at the national and state assemblies. These
are the proper and legal fora for Nntional debate, not
some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-
determined set of objectives.

On the challenges facing the country, the president
said the country’s savings were squandered when the
price of crude oil was $100 per barrel.

Crude oil price was at its highest during the
administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

When the country entered a recession in August 2016,
the Buhari administration blamed the Jonathan
administration for it, saying the past government
emptied the treasury despite huge oil revenues.
He said because of that the country was left with
social and physical infrastructure deficit.

“However, in spite of oil prices being an average of
$100 per barrel and about 2.1m barrels a day, that
great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s
social and physical infrastructure neglected. We were
left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit,” he
said.

“The APC government’s campaign rallying cry to
restore security, re-balance the economy and fight
corruption was not all rhetoric.

“The country must first be secured. The economy
must be re-balanced so that we do not depend on oil
alone. We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s
number One enemy. Our administration is tackling
these tasks in earnest.”

The president also said the country had made
appreciable gains in political freedom.
He added that Nigerians had been free to hold and
disseminate opinions, but that the “freedom” is now
subject to abuse.

“In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded
appreciable gains in political freedom. A political party
at the centre losing elections of state governor,
national assembly seat and even state assemblies to
the opposition parties is new to Nigeria. Added to
these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and
disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly
attest to the country’s growing political development.
But like all freedoms, this is open to abuse,” he said.

TheCable