Senate President Ahmad Lawan says divisive utterances by some Southwest governors were responsible for the killings in Sasha market and other violence against Northerners in the region.
Lawan said this during an interview with the BBC on Saturday.
Several people were feared killed during violence that erupted between Hausa and Fulani traders in Shasha market in Ibadan, Oyo state, recently.
He said: “What happened in Oyo State and other things that kept happening in the Southwestern states are caused by leadership failures in the region.
“Some utterances by some governors also went a long way in inciting the citizens to take up arms against other ethnic groups settling in their states.
“The governors’ utterances emboldened the criminals to unleash violence against the Northerners.”
Lawan said the Sasha killing occurred when the legislators were in recess, the Senate condemned the violence in its entirety, upon resumption.
He said: “We condemned the violence and even moved against any kind of inciting comments or utterances by some government officials.
“We equally condemned the eviction order by one ethnic group on the other, or indigene-settle claims, just as we called for the compensation of all the victims of herder/farmer clashes in the country.
“Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari had also invited the state governors and told them that the Federal Government would not condone any governor calling for the eviction of any ethnic group from his state.
“He said that no governor should incite his citizens to unleash terror or violence on the non-indigene members of the communities.”
“The President also stressed that the Nigerian constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to live in any part of the country he wishes.
“Also, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had met with state governors during the NEC meeting and it was resolved that compensations be provided to all the victims of herder/farmer clashes.”
