President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, promised harsh consequences for persons who pit themselves against Nigeria’s sovereignty and security.
He also said his administration had made considerable gains against banditry and kidnapping through intensified campaigns buoyed by intelligence gathering.
“Those who think they can threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria will have themselves to blame. They have a price to pay. And we are not going to relent,” Tinubu said when he received leaders of the Yoruba socio-political Organisation, Afenifere, at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Oba Olu Falae, and other eminent citizens.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed the details of Wednesday’s talks in a statement titled, ‘President Tinubu receives leaders of Afenifere, says the administration is resolute in achieving economic security in a fair and equitable system for all Nigerians.’
Speaking on security, the President declared that those who threatened the sovereignty of Nigeria would pay a heavy price.
The declaration by Tinubu came days after Yoruba Nation agitators, dressed in military camouflage and armed with guns, stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat, attempting to hoist the Yoruba Nation flag on the premises of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The Yoruba Nation promoters are seeking the breakaway of the Yoruba people from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They contended that the interest of the Yoruba people had not been adequately protected in Nigeria, saying their welfare would be better taken care of under a separate sovereign entity to be known as Yoruba Nation.
But Tinubu speaking on Wednesday, vowed to keep Nigeria as one.
The President said, “I am irrevocably committed to the unity of Nigeria and constitutional democracy. Constitutional democracy has been reflected greatly here since we assumed office. What we face now is the challenge of terrorism.
“Security of life and property is necessary for development. I can tell you we are achieving success. We have degraded terrorism to a level that it can no longer threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Banditry and kidnapping will be defeated. And there is no payment of ransom whatsoever. We are taking the battle to them. We are getting results more rapidly than before. We are working hard on intelligence gathering.”
The President said his administration was re-engineering Nigeria’s finances and seeking to boost citizens’ purchasing power and spread prosperity by instituting a credit system where the element of cash does not impede a significantly enhanced standard of living for all citizens.
He argued that Nigeria must first secure itself economically before achieving its more sophisticated objectives.
“We are committed to our country’s economic survival. To re-engineer our country’s finances, we must start in earnest,” he explained.
According to Tinubu, this will require first retooling, revamping the economic opportunities available, and continuing to take the necessary firm, steady baby steps.
“Education is a strong weapon against poverty. To empower the people, we must invest in the future of our youths.
“We have seen the problems parents face in training their children in school; it is why we established the National Student Loan Programme, which is taking off well,” he explained.
He assured the Yoruba leaders that his administration would emphasise the Consumer Credit Scheme and provide allowances for the unemployed to reduce the high unemployment rate.
“We must help vulnerable people by providing social security.