South-West APC leaders meet, warn separatist agitators

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Nigeria’s South-West, including governors on the party platform, have urged separatist advocates to desist forthwith and renew their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.

The APC leaders, who rose from a meeting summoned by a former Interim National Chairman of the ruling party, Chief Adebisi Akande, at the State House, Marina, Lagos, also expressed their opposition to hate speeches.

The party chieftains, while commiserating with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ibrahim Attahiru, expressed concern about the state of the nation particularly the serious security challenges facing the country.

“We note with significant concern the security situation in the country. Terrorism and violent criminality threaten many areas, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of too many innocent and peace-loving Nigerians.

 “While mindful of the resource and other constraints facing the nation, we urge the federal government to continue to make the necessary expenditures and allocate sufficient resources to enable the military and security agencies to tackle the difficult security challenges confronting us.

 “For Nigeria to overcome these challenges, we must do so with unity of purpose and action. The desire for peace and the chance for a prosperous and just society is universal and transcends all regional, religious or ethnic divisions. Sadly, many public figures have made statements that spark division and undermine the needed unity of purpose,” the APC leaders said.

Open Grazing

At the end of the meeting, the APC leaders came up with a nine-point communiqué endorsing the position of southern governors on open grazing, saying besides reducing the tension between herders and farmers, it would minimise the friction in the country.

“We endorse the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching. We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities.

“We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned.

Today, I hosted a meeting of APC leaders in the South-West and the state of the nation and current security challenges were discussed.

The SW leaders endorsed the position of Southern Governors on the ban of open grazing that was taken during a summit held on May 11, 2021. pic.twitter.com/j0XVkMQjHG

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) May 23, 2021

“We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimizes the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy,” the leaders said.

They, however, urged the Federal Government to provide short-, medium- and long-term financing for states and those who might wish to set up ranches through the Central Bank as part of the agricultural sustainability policy.

True Federalism

Chief Akande, who read the communiqué, said the leaders endorsed the call for true federalism and the reallocation of resources and authority that comes with it as such would empower the states to solve localized issues before they spread and transformed into national ones.

“We hold to the view that true federalism where more power and resources are allocated to the states will be an essential part in strengthening society and improving democratic governance so that we beat the present challenges but also engender durable peace and security.

“True federalism and the reallocation of resources and authority that comes with it will empower the states to solve localised issues before they spread and transform into national ones.

 “In addition to mitigating political competition for control of the national government, greater federalism will empower grassroots economic development and political reforms that will stand as bulwarks against the terrorism and criminality now experienced in too many parts of the nation.

“A hallmark of this enhanced federalism will be the establishment of state police forces,” Akande said.

Addressing Security Challenges

The South-west APC leaders urged the government at all levels, security agencies, and public leaders to do everything possible to prevent tensions so that the country would sustain the unity to overcome challenges to national security.

They also called on Nigerians to speak and act in a manner that strengthens the common cause against common threats to collective peace, justice and development.

“We restate our abhorrence of violence as a means to achieve political or economic power and influence.

“We strongly condemn violence of any form in any part of the country, regardless of ethnic or regional identity of the perpetrators of the violence or of the victims.

“Government must do all it can to protect potential victims and to assist those who have previously been victimized by terrorism or widespread banditry,” they stated.

The APC leaders that attended the meeting include APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; Lagos State Governor and the host, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others are former Governor Segun Osoba, Minister of Trade and Industry, Chief Niyi Adebayo; former Vice Chairman, APC South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure and former Chief of Army Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd).

 

Zainab Sa’id