President
Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerian elites to stop misleading the people
through their unguarded utterances.
Buhari, who
is the visitor to University of Uyo, gave this warning at the 24th convocation
ceremony of the institution on Saturday.
The
President, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Yakasai, Director of Corporate
Communications, National University Commission (NUC), said that development and
progress could not thrive in a hate-filled and divisive society.
He said
universities as home of great thinkers, should give guidance to the communities
to enable the people to make informed decisions as the country approaches the
2019 general elections.
He said that
the Federal Government would not condone or tolerate incendiary remarks from
any person or group of persons which were meant to cause fear and spread hate
in the country.
Buhari said
that the federal government would continue to do its best to ensure the
maintenance of peace and security of lives and property in the country.
“At this point,
I want to be very clear and equivocal, that the Federal Government will never
condone or tolerate incendiary remarks from any person or group of persons,
which are meant to harass, intimidate, cause fear and spread hate, no matter
how highly placed such a person is.
“Law
enforcement agencies should fish out people who make inciting statements,
instigate civil disobedience, broadcast hate speeches or stir strife, riot and
rebellion and bring them to book.
“We should
continue to live together as brothers and sisters,” Buhari said.
The
president called on the fresh graduates to look beyond leaders who have failed
themselves and the nation but choose their heroes from among those who believe
in the progress of Nigeria and emulate those who are honest and work hard in
their profession.
Buhari said
there was need for the curriculum of Nigerian universities to be diversified to
include entrepreneurial skills to help graduates employ themselves and others
after graduation.
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