Lai Mohammed Reveals Those Sponsoring Secession Agitation In Nigeria

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has alleged that some Nigerians living outside the country are responsible for financing agitators and their activities in Nigeria.

The Minister made the submission on Tuesday when he played host to members of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, United Kingdom Chapter in Abuja.

He said the agitators are receiving major backings against the government by Nigerians residing outside the country.

Mohammed however observed that the narratives been peddled by the agitators and their sponsors are not true, therefore urging Nigerians in diaspora to help in tackling the false narratives.

According to him, “It is in recognition of the relevance of Nigerians in Diaspora that the secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world for their causes have identified and are effectively using some of them (Nigerians in Diaspora) to propagate their fake narratives about the country, in addition to relying on their financial contributions to fund their nefarious activities. This is disheartening.

“I therefore want to use this opportunity to appeal to NIDO to seize the initiative from those who are bent on painting Nigeria bad in the comity of nations. Yes, we have challenges, especially in the area of insecurity. But this administration has not only acknowledged these challenges, it is earnestly tackling them.

“Instead of contributing their own quota to these efforts, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in the Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalisation, human rights abuses, etc.

“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda.”

Meanwhile, the pan Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari over the clampdown on agitators in the country.

The acting Leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, said this in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Jare Ajayi, on Monday.

According to the group, President Muhammadu Buhari should focus on ending insecurity in the country instead of going after secessionists.