ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he has kept quiet on the recent clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite Islamic group in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Speaking at his maiden presidential media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, he said that the Federal Government wass waiting for the outcome of the various investigative panel set up before making any pronouncement on the issue.
He confirmed that he was called by the President of Iran concerning the situation but assured that he assured the Iranian leader that there are laid down procedures in Nigeria to handle such the situation.
Buhari said Shiite group has been involved in confrontation with constituted authorities for over 20 years, adding “there cannot be a state within a state”.
He insisted that Federal government would have to wait for the investigative panels set up by the Kaduna State Government, the military and other related agencies before speaking further on the issue.
“I was in touch with the governor of Kaduna State. Interestingly, the President of Iran called me about it and I told him we have a system of investigation. I am allowing the Army and Kaduna State Government to submit their reports before I can make my own conclusion.
“How can any group create a state within a state. I don’t want to speak about it in detail until they submit their reports. I expect the report of the Judicial Commission of enquiry from the Kaduna State Government. I heard that this has been going on for about 10 to 20 years now. There are many allegations but I have to wait for the report,” he said.
The President also spoke on the efforts of the government to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in parts of the North East. He said the government was currently helping some of the IDPs, of which 65 per cent of them is orphaned children identify their relatives and as well as relocate them to their states of origin.
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“The orphaned children, we are trying to find out where they come from, establish and put them in schools. We have got the money from the TY Danjuma Committee , which has raised N25 billion and with the assistance of the G-7 countries, progress is being made,” he said.
