The Presidency has described as scary and shocking the statement by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma, that Nigerians should defend themselves in the face of the attack by herdsmen.
Danjuma spoke at the convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University, Jalingo.
Reacting to the development on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said prominent Nigerians with national influence should use their influence wisely and not continue to engage in public declarations that are likely to inflame emotional passions and threaten national security.
The Presidency, Shehu said, “is very worried that criminal gangs will feel justified in defying legal governing and democratic institutions, and authority of legitimately elected democratic government if unrestrained pronouncements are made”.
He said silence can be dignified although it can be misinterpreted and exploited sometimes.
He said: “It is both shocking and scary to hear the recent comments by a senior citizen calling for Nigerians to defend themselves.
“The Presidency commends the Nigerian military’s efforts to maintain peace and stability, despite being pulled in various directions by elements determined to destabilize the country and government for their selfish reasons.
“What country would survive if its citizens rise against the country’s organized, trained and equipped military?
“We advise former leaders to take advantage of the various fora where people with a history of national security can offer advice to the government without resorting to the exploitation of emotional sentiments.
“The civil war motto: ‘TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE IS A TASK THAT MUST BE DONE,’ rings very timely at this time in our nation’s history. We must be careful to avoid the mess that destroyed other African countries like Somalia.”
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