We’ll address agitations, proclamations urgently —Osinbajo

ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo has assured that the Federal Government would address rising agitations and proclamations in the country as it could not pretend about them.

He said in line with that, the government initiated ongoing consultations with leaders of thought in the North and the South-East.

Speaking while meeting with leaders from the South-East at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, he warned that no side must fall into the temptation to engage in tit-for-tat attitude.

“These expressions and agitations from both sides have been attended with some controversial and hateful vituperation, including patently illegal and violence-inducing remarks.

“I firmly believe that we ought to address these agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively,” he said.

Osinbajo noted that it was leaders’ responsibility to ensure peace, progress and prosperity in the country, adding that “it is in my view that the role and responsibility of those privileged in society to be leaders must chart a progressive and lofty course for the ordinary people.”

Recalling the devastation of the Civil War, he pointed out that wars were started with words.

According to him, “it is also clear that wars sometimes start, not with bullets, but with words. Hateful, incendiary speeches open floodgates of blood. The tongue, like the pen, is often mightier than the sword because it is what pushes the sword into action. When we throw words like stones in a marketplace, we do not know who or what it will hit.”

Speaking for the South-East leaders after the meeting, Governor Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi State told State House correspondents that the meeting was to find ways to ensure that Nigerians lived together in peace.

Noting that the meeting was not about the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), he said there was nothing wrong in agitations but doing so peacefully and within the law was important.

On the message they would take back to IPOB agitators, he said “everybody has a right to agitate, but we emphasise the need for peaceful agitation.”

Among those present were Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; governors of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and Imo states, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dave Umuahi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano and Rochas Okorocha, respectively; President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo; Senator Ken Nnamani, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.

Others were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau; Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Minister of Defence, Masur Dan Ali, among others.