Nigeria’s ethnic, religious tensions are products of economic strains – Aregbesola

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, declared on Tuesday that the heightening ethnic and religious tensions in Nigeria are products of political and economic strains in the country.

Aregbesola, who stated this in a statement in Abuja, was reacting to the current crisis in Ondo and parts of Oyo States over the activities of herdsmen.

He said the Federal Government is having a holistic look at the challenges with a view to bring lasting peace and security to all communities.

 

 

He also urged all aggrieved parties to exercise restraint in the face of any provocation and vowed that government would effectively deal with problems in the two states.

He said: “The regrettable incidences of heightening ethnic and religious tensions in our country are, in part, outcomes of political and economic strains that have persistently defined our land and continue to exacerbate security challenges, making the task of development more traumatic.

READ ALSO: Buhari has sleepless nights over hardship and suffering in Nigeria –Aregbesola

Aregbesola said: “The government is keenly aware and genuinely concerned about these complications that, sadly, have been sharpened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through the growth of anxieties about issues, lives, and livelihoods in our communities.

 

 

“There will be no tolerance for any act or behaviour capable of jeopardising law and order and security of lives and property in any part of Nigeria.

“Therefore, as the government is fashioning long term answers to address these problems, it urges citizens to appreciate that self-help and lawlessness cannot offer a path to a sustainable solution.

“It can only lead to greater pain as well as costly human and material losses and disruption of the already difficult task of devising responses that will produce tangible peace and development in the country.”

 

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