President Muhammadu Buhari has said it was not the intention of his administration to colonise of any part of the country in whatever guise.
The President promised to take a second look into the appointments made by his government.
The President spoke when he received the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.
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According to him, the intention of the government is to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, an idea which, he said, has been misconstrued as colonisation.
Buhari met with the Bishops in camera, but presidential spokesman Femi Adesina issued a statement on what the President said.
Besides, the Bishops gave the text of their address to State House reporters.
The President regretted that the well-thought out policy, which he said was conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.
He, however, assured the bishops that the government would continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.
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Condemning the killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states, the President said security operatives would ensure prosecution of perpetrators and all those found with illegal arms.
He said: ‘‘The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened is dishonest.
‘‘At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian Army – in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos.
‘‘I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get law enforcement agencies to be on the alert,’’ Buhari said.
The President added that he would not be tired of recounting remarkable progress recorded security, economy and the fight against corruption.
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‘‘We have done very well on security in the Northeast, when you compare what the condition was before we came in and what it is now.
‘‘On the economy, particularly agriculture, I am very pleased that God answered the prayers of Nigerians who prayed for bountiful harvest.
‘‘People have taken advantage of Federal Government policies and programmes to return to the farm and they have not regretted,’’ he said.
On the fight against corruption, the President reiterated that the government would be guided by the law in the investigation and prosecution of all graft-related cases.
‘‘People are being prosecuted systematically with evidenceâ€, Buhari said, adding:
‘‘If a permanent secretary has five houses in Abuja, two in Kaduna and one in Borno and Sokoto and he can’t account for the properties and there are bank transactions linking him to the properties, the prosecuting agencies will not have difficulties to make progress on the case.â€
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The statement by the Bishops, which they said was read at the meeting, is signed by CBCN President and Archbishop of Jos, the Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and Secretary and Bishop of Gboko, the Most Rev. Dr. William Avenya.
They said the Catholic Church in Nigeria would continue to support the Buhari administration and contribute to nation-building through prayers, admonitions and assistance to needy Nigerians.
www.sojworld.com © February 9, 2018
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