Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called on leaders in Nigeria to rise to the challenge of ending the continuous killings across the country.
Speaking at a leadership and stakeholders’ meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital, Osinbajo said the loss of lives resulting from farmers and herdsmen crisis in the country must stop.
The number two citizen called for an end to the blame game, saying the responsibility of finding solutions to the problems rests on the leaders.
“It is very important we recognise that the place of leadership is so critical in the resolution of all the problems of this state and of our nation,” Osinbajo said.
“Leadership loses relevance where there is no peace and the people are running all over the place and are unable to find security.
“You and I are responsible before God, there is no leader or any religion that will promote the killing of other people and that is why it is the responsibility of all of us as leaders to ensure that no life is lost whether that life is Tiv, Fulani, or whatever that life may be.
“God has placed us in positions of leadership so that we would protect lives, and they do not have to be lives of those who speak the same language with us or belong our religion or tribe.
“God established us as leaders because He believes that we are responsible enough not to allow a situation where people will be killed and we look the other way because they did not belong to our tribe, our religion or not agree with us.
“He has given us a role which goes beyond that of the common man. Leadership is a God-given duty and we must do what God expects of us.”
The vice-president further said finding solution to the problems require the collaboration of government and the local authority.
He said the federal government was working with the state governments to provide the necessary facilities that would ensure that farmers and herdsmen live in relative peace.
“On the part of government, it is our business to provide security. We have deployed special forces and we intend to do more in all the states where we have had these crisis,” he said.
“Mr President, just about two days ago, was reviewing the position in both Benue and Nasarawa states, especially the special forces that have been deployed to ensure the crisis comes to an end.
“We have been talking at the National Economic Council about what to do, especially about providing ranches, earth dams in grazing areas and ensuring that there is adequate provision for cattle to prevent a situation where these crisis continue. We must search for practical solutions.”
He said the federal government was determined to ensure that peace was restored to the communities affected by the crisis, and that the people displaced and accommodated in various camps return to their homes to continue with their normal lives.
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