Don’t threaten national security with your comments, Presidency appeals to Danjuma, others

One week after former Defense Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd)
urged Nigerians to defend themselves against killers in the country,
the Presidency has called on prominent and influential Nigerians to be
wise while engaging the public in order that their declarations not
inflame tensions and threaten national security.
Danjuma had made the call while speaking at the maiden convocation of
the Taraba State University, Jalingo, Taraba State.
"I am not a politician and politics is one profession I don't want to
belong to because if I am a politician, I would not say what I am
going to say to you now," Danjuma had said.
"When I arrived this arena, I saw rich cultural display, and I was
amazed at the rich cultural heritage of our people. Taraba is a mini
Nigeria with diverse ethnic groups living together peacefully, but the
peace in this state is under assault.
"There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in the state and, of course,
some rural states in Nigeria.
"We must resist it. We must stop it. Everyone of us must rise up."
The Senior Special Assistant to the Presiden on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, in a statement expressed worry that "criminal gangs will
feel justified in defying legal governing and democratic institutions
and the authority of legitimately elected democratic government if
unrestrained pronouncements are made.
"Silence can be dignified, but sometimes it can be misinterpreted and
exploited. 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," the spokesman said.