ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday read a riot act warning that the federal government would deal with individuals or groups spreading hate speeches capable of affecting the unity of the country.

Osinbajo said the government was determined  to foster the unity of Nigeria and that it would not allow such persons get away with their action.

The acting president, who gave the warning when he met with Northern Elders, including Arewa Consultative Forum, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, appealed to all Nigerians to come together. He insisted that the federal government is capable of resolving all misunderstandings in the polity.

Besides, he noted that there would always be frustrations and misunderstandings when people live together, as some would always want to get the best, but that getting the best deal would only be possible in an atmosphere of peace.

He said it was incumbent on the current crop of leaders in the country to leave behind a peaceful and prosperous nation and that could only be possible in a peaceful atmosphere. Osinbajo said: “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets, which may be deadly.

“So, I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended.

“As part of living together, I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal but we must be careful to recognise that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything when we are together in peace.

“These days, wars do not end and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.

“This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines. Moments like these are not for isolating ourselves. I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together. Hate and divisive speech will be met with full force.

“As a government, we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speech or divisive behaviour, where it is illegal, will be met with the full force of the law.

“And I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence, especially because when we make these kind of pronouncements and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property, we are no longer in control.

“Those who make those speeches are no longer in control. So, I want to emphasise that government will take very seriously any attempt to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins.”

The meeting was attended by Bukola Saraki, Senate president; Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the House of Representatives; General Gabriel Olanishakin, chief of Defence Staff; Ibrahim Comassie, chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum and former inspector-general of Police, as well as Ango Abdullahi, a member of ACF.

Others present at the meeting included Aliyu Wamakko, a former governor of Sokoto State; Pauline Tallen, a former deputy governor of Plateau State; Sam Ndah-Isaiah, publisher, Leadership newspapers; Paul Unongo, an elder statesman; Tijani Ramalan, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust, among others.

After the Federal Executive Council meeting today, Wednesday, June14, Osinbajo will also meet with South-East leaders of thoughts, including traditional rulers and religious leaders  from the zone on Friday, June16, and their counterparts from the North on Sunday, June18, in efforts to nip any crisis arising from the threats and counter threats in the bud.

—  Jun 14, 2017 @ 12:00 GMT