No plan to colonize any part of Nigeria, President Buhari explains grazing policy as Catholic Bishops visit

*Condemns killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Zamfara

*Insists on prosecution of perpetrators, people found with illegal arms in affected areas

*Describes impression he was sitting in air-conditioned home enjoying while killings went on as dishonest

*Says he’s aware of problems Nigerians have and tries his best to put security agencies on alert

*Buhari says govt will be guided by law in fighting corruption

…as he adds people are being prosecuted systematically with evidence

*We will continue to support Buhari’s government – Catholic Bishops

By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor

According to Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari told the Bishops that the intention of government was to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, which had now been misconstrued as another form of colonization. Buhari regretted that the well-thought out policy of the Federal Government, which was conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public. He, however, assured the Catholic Bishops that the Federal Government would continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.

Known for studying situations before taking actions on issues especially those that, for one reason or the other, have been misconstrued into avoidable controversies, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday in Abuja, made bold statements telling the world that his government’s policy on grazing areas, against what critics have spread abroad, is not meant to colonize any part of Nigeria as, according to him, there is no plan by his administration to engage in such a thing.

Speaking against the sayings that he persistently kept silence in the wake of killings resulting from clashes between herdsmen and farmers in parts of the country, President Buhari explained that the policy was proposed with the main intention of the Federal Government to resolve the frequent clashes, emphasizing that such policy could not have truly been misconstrued as plan to colonize any part of the country.

The President spoke while receiving Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.

According to Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari told the Bishops that the intention of government was to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, which had now been misconstrued as another form of colonization.

Buhari regretted that the well-thought out policy of the Federal Government, which was conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.

He, however, assured the Catholic Bishops that the Federal Government would continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.

Condemning recent spate of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states, the President said security operatives would ensure prosecution of perpetrators and all those found with illegal arms in the affected areas.

‘‘The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened, is dishonest.

‘‘At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian Army, in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos.

‘‘I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get law enforcement agencies to be on alert,’’ he said.

The President told the Catholic Bishops that he would not be tired of recounting remarkable progress recorded in the areas of security, economy and the fight against corruption.

‘‘We have done very well on security in the North East, when you compare what the condition was before we came in and what it is now.

‘‘On the economy, particularly agriculture, I am very pleased that God answered the prayers of Nigerians who prayed for bountiful harvest.

‘‘People have taken advantage of Federal Government policies and programmes to return to the farm and they have not regretted,’’ he said.

On the fight against corruption, the President reiterated that government would be guided by the law in the investigation and prosecution of all graft-related cases.

‘‘People are being prosecuted systematically with evidence.

‘‘If a permanent secretary has five houses in Abuja, two in Kaduna and one in Borno and Sokoto and he can’t account for the properties and there are bank transactions linking him to the properties, the prosecuting agencies will not have difficulties to make progress on the case.”

On the question of Federal character, the President declared that no ethnic group or political zone has been deliberately marginalised in the appointments made so far.

He, however, added that he would take a second look at areas on which issues have been raised, when a compendium of all government appointments is submitted to him.

In his remarks, Archbishop Kaigama pledged that the Catholic Church in Nigeria would continue to support the Buhari administration and make its contribution to nation-building through prayers, admonitions and assistance to needy Nigerians.

‘‘As the voice of the people, we shall continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitising the government, thus promoting good governance, national unity and cohesion,’’ Kaigama said.