President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, to secure communities under suspected herdsmen attack.
Buhari gave the directive at the presentation of the book “Who will love my country: Ideas for building a Nigeria of our dreams” by Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.
The president, who, was represented by the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, further directed Olonisakin and Arase to go after all groups terrorising innocent people across the country.
He expressed the present government’s determination to tackle the problem, adding that his administration would not allow such attacks to continue.
“Let me use this platform to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack perpetrated on the Ukpabu Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State on Monday.
“I deeply sympathise with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost their properties in the attack.
“I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen,’’ he said.
On the theme of the book, Buhari urged Nigerians to change their ways of live for a better society.
“The author struck the right notes when he enjoined leaders to carry out programmes that will enhance the prosperity, happiness and living conditions of citizens.
“He stressed the need for change in several areas, including attitudinal change, especially as it concerns corruption and impunity and of course, the need for Nigerians to love their country.
“He demonstrated in the book that Nigerians can only build a Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to love her above their individual selves and narrow interests.
“Let me say here that there is no controverting these critical issues raised by the author, and that indeed, for this government, these words amount to preaching to the converted.
“Our mantra is CHANGE, starting with individual attitudinal change.
“That explains why this administration will soon launch a major campaign, tagged CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME.
“It is aimed at getting Nigerians to realise that the change they so much desire starts with them,’’ he said.
On the call by the author of the book for leaders to undertake programmes that will enhance the living standard of Nigerians, the president said the present government was already towing that path.
He stressed that the 2016 Budget was designed to bring millions of Nigerians out of poverty, enhance the living conditions of the citizens as well as put smiles to their faces.
“Our N500 billion Social Intervention Fund, which is unprecedented, will, among others, create jobs for 500,000 unemployed graduates and 370,000 unemployed non-graduates.
“It will provide loans for one million Nigerians, including market men and women as well as artisans, to start up small businesses.
“It will feed 4.5 million school children, ensure conditional cash transfers to the most vulnerable (not unemployed graduates) citizens and provide scholarships to students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“When the author also noted that Nigerians can only build a Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to love her above their individual selves and narrow interests, he could not have said it better.
“Anyone who puts his or her country over and above other interests will not engage in unbridled corruption, divert money meant for public use to private purposes or divert money for the national treasury into private pockets.
“When we put the public interest above our personal interests, the society benefits, but when the reverse is the case, the society suffers,’’ he said.
He further said the remark by the author that challenges that came with multi-ethnic nations like Nigeria required patience, understanding and willingness to subordinate personal and sectional interests to the overriding interests of the nation was apt.
The author of the book, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, called on Nigerian leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying that it was the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest.
He challenged Nigerians to show more love for their fatherland by rising above tribe, ethnic, religious and political persuasions, to subdue personal interests to the overriding interest of the country.
According to him, to love Nigeria will entail Nigerians critically revising and re-examining their attitudes, values and how they treat one another, adding that “it demands of us some sacrifice”.
“Are we going to bequeath to them a banner stained by corruption, bad governance, ineffective leadership, ethnicity, slacking moral values, decadence, mediocrity and sloth? God forbid,’’ he said.
He urged Nigerians to return to the path of progress and unity charted by the founding fathers.
“If you are on a journey and you find out that you are travelling the wrong road, the right thing to do is to turn back and take the right path.
“We must be ready to surrender our perceived narrow advantages to the general good.
“We must let go, for unless you release the man you are holding to the ground, you would not also be able to move an inch.
“ Now is the time to offer one another a hand of comradeship and together we can move to the Promised Land.’’
Ekweremadu said he wrote the book, not as the Deputy President of the Senate, nor as a card carrying member of any political party, but as a patriotic Nigerian.
He added that “I lay no claims to having the solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
“I simply want to challenge and inspire Nigerians to rise above ethnic, partisan and selfish interests and focus more on how to build a better country for us and our children.’’
He urged leaders to show fidelity to democratic imperatives of accountability and transparency, respect the laws of the land and respect the rights and liberties of citizens.
According to him, nobody can save or help Nigeria except Nigerians.
The deputy president of the Senate further commiserated with the families of those who lost loved ones in the attack in Enugu and other parts of the country to suspected herdsmen.
He said the incident further reinforced the need for his book and the ideas espoused in the book to be championed by all Nigerians.
Highpoint of the event was a minute silence observed in honour of those killed in Uzo Uwani, Enugu State and those killed in other parts of Nigeria by suspected herdsmen.
