Chatham House: What Lai Mohammed said about Nigeria, killer herdsmen, 2019 elections
Chatham House in London on Wednesday, spoke on Nigeria's security and
the 2019 general election.
His speech was on the topic "Nigeria's National Unity: Toward
Participation and Shared Values".
Mohammed noted that in the next few months, Nigeria will be returning
to the polls for the general elections.
He said: "The run-up to the 2015 general elections tested the nation's
unity, in no small measure, and it remains to be seen whether we, the
people, have learnt any lessons as we move closer to the 2019 polls.
"The insurgency that started in 2009 had taken its toll on the country
by the time we assumed office. The terrorists struck freely at places
and times of their own choosing. They strolled into Abuja, the
nation's capital, several times to wreak havoc, including on the
United Nations office and the police headquarters.
"The terrorists administered a territory the size of Lebanon,
collecting taxes and removing and installing Emirs. Nigerians slept
with one eye open. It was in the midst of this that the new
Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came into office.
"The President ordered the relocation of the military campaign against
the insurgents to the North-east, and rallied regional and
international support for the battle. Shortly thereafter, the
insurgents were dislodged from the territories they occupied, and they
lost their capacity to freely attack cities or seize territories.
"Since coming into office, the Administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari has embarked on an unprecedented renewal of the nation's
infrastructure, investing an unprecedented 2.7 trillion Naira on
roads, rails, power and other similar projects.
"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as you are all aware, some 276
girls were abducted by terrorists from their school in Chibok, Borno
State, in 2014, about a year before the Buhari Administration assumed
office.
"At his inauguration, President Buhari promised to do whatever is
necessary to secure the release of the girls. Today, many of the girls
have been freed unharmed, even though over 100 of the girls remained
in captivity.
"When some 110 Dapchi school girls were similarly abducted, on 18 Feb.
2019, weensured that Nigerians were provided with detailed and
up-to-date information, having led a number of Federal Government
delegations to the school to get first-hand information. When, a few
weeks later, most of the girls were released, Nigerians were never in
doubt about the efforts that the government had put into freeing the
girls.
"Only last week, I led another Federal Government delegation to
Dapchi, in Yobe State, to meet with the mother of Leah Sharibu, the
remaining Dapchi girl in captivity, and to Maiduguri, in Borno State,
to meet with the families of the three aid workers who were kidnapped
by Boko Haram in March this year.
"Unfortunately, two of the three aid workers have now been killed, the
latest one being killed this past Monday. Our thoughts and prayers go
out to the families of the murdered women, even as we continue to do
everything any responsible government will do to free the women who
remain in captivity.
"As the 2019 general elections approach, Nigeria faces a new
challenge, a threat not just to the country peace and security, but
indeed its very existence. It is the dual challenge of fake news and
hate speech. Yes, the fake news problem is not unique to Nigeria, but
it poses a more potent threat to the country because of its
multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural status.
"It is also a clear and present danger to the nation's unity.
Naysayers have latched onto the fake news phenomenon to exploit the
country's fault lines and inflame passion.
"Pictures of gun-totting herdsmen from other lands are routinely used
to depict the herdsmen in Nigeria. Age-long clashes between Farmers
and Herders have suddenly been dressed in the garb of religion and
ethnicity.
"Ignored is the fact that the clashes have become more persistent
because of a mixture of many factors, including population explosion,
effects of climate change, keener contest for dwindling natural
resources and sheer criminality. Religion and ethnicity are not the
reasons for these clashes."
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