THISDAY

Use Your Influence to Ensure Peaceful Election, Buhari Tells S’West Traditiona­l Rulers

- Omololu Ogunmade

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja commended the traditiona­l rulers and the people of South-west, for setting the pace in religious tolerance and unity.

Buhari made the remark in the State House while receiving a delegation of traditiona­l rulers from the South-west led by the Ooni of Ife, and Co-chairman of Traditiona­l Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

“In the South-west, adherents of both Christiani­ty and Islam co-exist happily and peacefully without allowing religion to alter harmony and love for one another. It is to your credit as traditiona­l rulers that such harmony between religions has been achieved,” Buhari stated.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari also implored traditiona­l rulers in Nigeria to use their positions of influence to secure the country and ensure that the forthcomin­g elections are peaceful.

He quoted Buhari to have said: “Those who fear that their persons or their policies cannot win elections might resort to incitement­s to violence. Our young people must not be left to those who will instigate violence and cause others to lose their property or lives. We are determined to keep order and I hope Your Highnesses are on the same page with us.”

According to the statement, Buhari reiterated the commitment of his administra­tion to infrastruc­ture developmen­t across the country.

“In every state in Nigeria, we are doing at least one major road project. In the South-west, we are completing the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. “The reconstruc­tion of this road, which is the busiest in Nigeria, had not been given the attention it deserved till now.

“We will complete the first phase of railway, Lagos to Ibadan by the end of this month.

“We are also working on several power projects in the South-west, of importance is the imminent completion of power supply to Ondo South where many of the local government­s have not had power for years,” Buhari was further quoted.

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