Gbaja advocates dialogue to address rising tension over insecurity

Femi Gbajabiamiala, speaker of the house of representatives, has called for dialogue to address concerns over ethnic links to insecurity.

The speaker’s comment comes amid rising tension in some parts of the country over allegations levelled against herdsmen relating to killings and abductions.

Addressing journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, Gbajabiamila said no ethnic group should lord itself over another.

Noting that the meeting with the president was on the state of the nation, he said the national assembly will look into adopting dialogue to address the rising tension and promote a peaceful environment.

“Everybody just has to come to the table and discuss and come to an amicable resolution which I am sure we will,” he said.

“I don’t think any ethnic group should lord it over any ethnic group. The south-west should not lord it over the north; the north should not lord it over the south.

“We should respect each other’s trade, geographical space, history, culture and, more importantly, the issue of crime, murder, all those things should be completely jettisoned.

“But more importantly, we all have to sit at the table and discuss this matter and look for the way forward. I think everybody is willing to do that.

“From the national assembly, solutions will come from talking. I believe that now that we are about to start work on Tuesday, I know these issues will come up and adequate and proper legislation that will address the issue frontally and in the best interest of the country, and all nations that make up the nation will be put in place.”

On Wednesday, some women in Uromi, Esan local government area of Edo state, hit the streets to protest against the activities of herders in the area.

In January, the government of Ondo issued a seven-day ultimatum for herdsmen to vacate reserved forests in the state.

Sunday Igboho, a youth leader, had also issued asked herdmen to vacate Oyo state and other parts of the south-west region.