President Muhammadu Buhari has asked leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to help him pacify rampaging militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Lamenting the effect of attacks on oil installations, the president said the country does not need such a distraction at this point in time.
He said the militants were in possession of sophisticated equipment, adding that unlike the Boko Haram sect which has one faction, the militants are in so many groups, suggesting that government has been having challenges relating with them.
Buhari was speaking on Friday, at the breaking of fast dinner with the APC leadership at the presidential villa in Abuja.
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“I honestly don’t know how many factions the militants are in the Niger Delta compared to the north-east where you have the Boko Haram,” he said.
“The technology being deployed by the militants to destroy oil installations is high-tech, the way they can go on high sea and international waters and target oil installations is a national problem. It is affecting development.
“No insurance company will want to insure installations that will end up being blown up and no banks will want to finance such installations.
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“Those of you who have friends among the leadership or even the militants themselves should plead with them in the name of God Almighty to take it easy.
“We are in a very difficult time, so we have to organise ourselves. Anybody that says he has any other country than Nigeria should go out and see.”
He expressed delight that the primary election in Edo state was successful, and said close attention would be paid to Ondo state, which is next in line.
“The successful conduct of APC primaries in Edo state gave me a new hope,” he said.
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“We are going to watch Ondo very closely, we have to ensure that the vote of the people count.”
John Oyegun, national chairman of the party, said the APC was pleased with the achievements of the president so far.
Oyegun, who acknowledged that Nigeria was passing through a difficult time, said “change does not come cheap or easily”.
“Things must change. Those things don’t come easily. Nigeria is clearly a difficult nation to govern,’’ he said.
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Those at the event were former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Ghali Na’aba, former speaker of the house of representatives; Segun Oni, the party’s deputy national chairman (south), and Timipre Sylva, former Bayelsa state governor.
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14 comments
It is too late. The wicked shall reap their reward. The injustice against the people of South south and south east has been too much
michael please which injustice are you talking about? the ss has 3 different agencies looking after its course yet you are talking of injustice. may be they have planted the seed of hatered in yuor mind that beclouded your sense of reasoning.
The president should meet these militants half way. Can we have a Confederation of Nationalities instead of supporting outright breakaway. It’s only a mad man that keeps doing the same thing and expects different results.
The swiss are a confederated state and they are co existing peacefully operating as a unit.
That statement that change does not come so easily is rubbish. How many yrs will it take u at d federal for us to see improvement in d economy ?People are suffering like no man’s land. Ordinary state governors eg Anambra have started doing something to give people hope but at federal it has being promises upon promises that it shall be well as if ur still doing campeign. Remember u are talking to human being. Adults for that matter not children. We are fed up with ur “i go better tomorrow”. Pls for God’s sake do something. We are in rainy season now but I haven’t heard that federal govt is sharing fertilizer or ferming equipment or sponsoring farmers or farming in one way or d other yet d are preaching agriculture as substitute to oil. Remember what we did this yr will determine how next yr will be. I can only see Atiku showing his chicken farm, Buhari showing cattle farm. All these are good but what about rice, beans, yam, cassava, wheat, corn, tomatoes, pepper, etc farms that will abrige food shortage next yr. Please lets wise up.
Ify go farm make u show ur own now
I always wondered when Igbo’s where agitating of sovereignty. We in the north we are ready to go our way what is there? Is it not crude oil which is not own by Igbo’s. How many countries survive with out crude oil, in fact crude oil was a blessing misused and become a curse in Nigeria. The South-south people where not agitating for sovereignty rather they are fighting for the betterment of their region.Igbos If what you are doing is realistic why didn’t you do it during the last administration? When were you been marginalised? Was it last year or this year? Biafra carry go.
I think you have answered the question yourself. Since you have acknowledged that crude oil was a misused blessing and that you in the North are ready to go your way. The question should have been why you insist on retaining the Igbos in the one Nigeria project, where they according to most of your kindred are neither trusted nor wanted in the first place, as they cause so much mischief? Infact the North should have to celebrate the exit of the Igbos rather than insist on their stay in the perfect functional One Nigeria project, as no one would naturally want a fellow he does not trust to stay permanently in his house, and should he himself offer to go, the logical consequence should be an outburst of joy.
BEE u for ask to leave 2 or 3 years ago why now that shows u r all trouble makers u know what happes to trouble makers
If they are trouble makers to you and your kindred, celebrate thier exit.Infact you have no reason to keep a trouble maker, who even wants to go in your house the next minute..
Which North are you talking about, is it north west, east or central. We in the north central will not follow core north ooh. Intact we are not north central but middlebelt. Every zone should control their resources.
So u are hearing of Biafra for d first time. Inasmuch as am not supporting d idea of division, Biafra has bn sung & sang 4 years
@ Sarauta. Anambra state is one of the few states who ain’t owing salaries and the state government still dishing out money to farmers and other empowerment projects including ongoing infrastructural developments so basically we don’t need oil to survive just like Israel doesn’t have one.
PMB, This is the way to go instead of threatening to treat them like the islamic sect boko haram.
Lobbying, negotiations and dialogue settles issues and not kill, destroy and fight.
Good thinking PMB.
pmb means well 4 nigeria but he lacks astute knowledge of situation of event.politics of inclusiveness and willingness to dialogue is the key issue.Try both and econonic properity will manifest.i am 4rm the eastern part but i speak as anigerian.i love nigeria