President Muhammadu Buhari has told religious leaders and traditional rulers that insecurity is one of the challenges threatening Nigeria’s existence.
The President said this at an Iftar dinner with religious and traditional rulers at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
He said no responsive government can ignore the role of religious and traditional rulers in tackling insecurity in the country.
He said his administration would continue to count on the invaluable advice and guidance of members of the revered institutions towards improving the current security challenges in the country.
The President, who said moving Nigeria forward remained a collective responsibility, urged leaders at all levels to contribute meaningfully in making the country a better place.
”Today, insecurity is one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria’s existence. This administration has invested more resources than any other to tackle insecurity.”
”We have acquired advanced equipment for our armed forces and the police to strengthen their capacity to confront terrorism and banditry. We have made adequate budgetary allocations for security. Whatever the security agencies request I make it available to them immediately. But insecurity is a world-wide phenomenon. The cure and the answer is for all sections of society to do their bit and confront the criminals head-on.
”The success of our armed and other security forces also depends on intelligence about the activities of bandits and terrorists. Those aiding and abetting terrorists are helping to destroy their own communities. Our traditional and religious leaders have a key role to play in terms of improving intelligence gathering about the movement of and activities of criminals in their domain,” he said.
The President said the determined efforts of government and cooperation of local leadership that led to the recovery of the local governments occupied and controlled by insurgent terrorists as of 2015 were required now for all localities to work with security agents, saying “Insha Allah we shall see the back of this problem soon.”
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, commended the Buhari administration’s timely response in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it is symbolic that when the country looks inward it can surmount many of its challenges.
The Ooni of Ife urged Nigerians to use the Holy month of Ramadan to always strive for unity, and celebrate the strength of Nigeria’s diversity.
Barr. Joseph Daramola, the General Secretary, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said he believed that ”God is at work in Nigeria,” noting that there were spiritual lessons to learn on nation-building from the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten period that just ended with the Easter celebration.
Jamiu Yusuf