President Buhari to herdsmen: Disregard Northern Elders forum’s advice to vacate South

President Buhari has asked Fulani herdsmen residing in the Southern parts of the country to disregard the quit order issued to them by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday July 16th.

A statement released on behalf of the President by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday quoted the Buhari as saying: 

“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. 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.

“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.

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.”

Recall that the NEF and the Coalition of the Northern Groups (CNGs) at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, asked Fulani herdsmen to leave the southern part of Nigeria.  According to them, the herdsmen should return to the North where their safety and that of their property could be guaranteed.