Senate President Warns Political Leaders over Insightful Utterances

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said the crises between herders and their host community continue to linger in the southwest due to political leaders’ utterances.
Lawan stated this while in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service. According to him, political leaders and some governors in the South West contribute to the recent mayhem.

He said, ‘What happened in Oyo State and other places, to tell the truth, there is a problem of leadership. ‘Even though the crisis could not be attributed to governors alone, but it is their constitutional duty to protect every citizen residing in their respective states.”
The Senate President noted that the comments made by some of the governors gave rise to the crisis and has increased the pains in other Nigerians.

According to him, “And from my understanding, the governors did what they did because of the support they get from some elders in the region, including some of their cultural groups,”
Though the Senate was not in session during the crises, he said it swift to action on resumption, as the crises resolution was the first issue the lawmakers addressed.

He called on holders of political offices to be guided by their utterances, noting that it will not accept any tribe or group denying any Nigerian the rights to live in any part of the country where they so desire.
He also said Vice President Yemi Osibanjo had met with state governors regarding paying compensation to those affected during the crises.

“Not only that, security were asked to fish out those responsible and they should be brought to justice so that it would serve as a deterrent to others who might like to toe along the line in future,” Lawan added.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who reacted to the Senate President’s statement, said the Senate President had mistaken the location by talking about Shasha.

This was contained in a press release issued by Governor Makinde’s Chief Press secretary, Taiwo Adisa; he said, “The issue in Shasha in Ibadan has nothing to do with utterances of anyone, be it the governor or any resident.
“The four governors who visited Oyo State after the incident attested that what happened was a disagreement among market people which has nothing to do with ethnicity, religion or tribe.
According to him, the Shasha crisis was a clash between a cart pusher and a pregnant woman, which has no bearing with a governor’s utterances.

“In any case, those who know Governor Seyi Makinde will attest to the fact that he talks with the measured civility of experienced diplomat. His utterances can never be linked to incitement of violence,” Adisa stated.