President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday addressed the nation where he warned against inflammatory statements and emphasised that the unity of Nigeria is settled and not negotiable.
Mr Buhari who returned from London on Saturday, said the government would no longer tolerate hate speeches and inflammatory statements.
“I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media, have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far,” he said.
He said that every Nigerian has a right to live anywhere in the country and that the unity of the country was not negotiable.
He said that Nigerians have the right to live and do business anywhere in the country and said: “I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.”
He explained that the National Assembly and the National Council of State were the appropriate bodies for national discourse and chart a course for Nigerians.
The President expressed dismay at the resurgence of Boko Haram after a successful 18 months battle against the insurgents.
He therefore, directed that terrorists and criminals should be fought and destroyed.
The president said the government would reinforce and reinvigorate the fight against insurgents and other criminals and criminalities.
Mr Buhari also scorned the high level of kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes, in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers.
“We shall tackle them all,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to come together to face common challenges of economic, security, political evolution and integration and to build a lasting peace.
