Presidential Engagement With Northern and Southeastern Leaders
The recent heightening of ethnic agitations in the country has necessitated the convening of a series of dialogues with political, religious and traditional leaders from across Northern and Southeastern Nigeria.

On the one hand there is the agitation (sometimes accompanied by violent rhetoric) for secession by the Southeast. On the other hand there is the recent ‘ultimatum’ by a group of Northern youths for Southeasterners to leave the North by October 1.

On account of these Acting President Osinbajo has in the last one week been meeting with leaders from these regions: With Political and Religious leaders from the North on Wednesday 14 June; with Political and Religious leaders from the Southeast on Thursday 15 June; with Traditional Rulers from the Southeast on Sunday 18 June; and with Traditional Rulers from the North on Monday 19 June.

After this the Acting President will meet with all these stakeholders and leaders in a joint session. There will also be a meeting with State Governors to discuss these agitations and work out lasting solutions.

The message of the Acting President, on behalf of President Buhari and the Federal Government, and regarding all expressions of hate/divisive speech, is clear and unambiguous:

“The manner of those agitations, the method and objectives are wrong, unlawful and the violation of the laws of Nigeria and the constitution of Nigeria. I want to repeat that both the agitations for secession and the ultimatum to leave the Northern states are wrong and a violation of our constitution. Our constitution says in Section 2 that Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that is the law of our country. Let us not be in any doubt about the fact that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that our country remains united. And that anyone who violates the law in the manner such as we are seeing all over the place will be met with the full force of the law.”