The President of Nigeria has told Niger Delta militants to accept the fact that Nigeria's sovereignty is not negotiable.
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Niger Delta militants that the sovereignty of Nigeria is not negotiable. He has therefore asked them to accept that fact and support peaceful efforts to turn Nigeria around.
He was speaking on Wednesday while receiving a cross section of Nigerians mostly Muslims who came to the presidential villa to pay him Sallah homage. Buhari also used the occasion to call on all those who stole public funds to quietly return it before it is too late.
The president who recalled the famous quote of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, said that the task of keeping Nigeria as one indivisible entity was a task that must be done.
He said: “We have to concentrate on the militants to try to know how many of them in terms of groupings, try to get in touch with their leadership, to try to persuade them to please give Nigeria a chance.
“I assure them that when we were very junior officers, we were told by our leaders, by the Head of State, which was Gen. Gowon, that to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done…We never thought of oil. What we were after is one Nigeria. Please, pass the message to the militants that one Nigeria is not negotiable. And I pray they better accept it. The constitution is very clear…I assure them there would be justice.
“And please persuade those who have plenty of money that does not belong to them to try and negotiate, return it in peace so that both them and us will be in peace.Otherwise we will continue to request”.