UN Secretary General and Borno State Governor, ZulumThe United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has said that what he saw when he visited Borno State yesterday, May 3, was hope on the faces of the people, despite frequent terrorism attacks.
He said that what he saw was actually different from the pictures of hopelessness and despair painted by media to the outside world.
He added that ”people exuded hope.’’
The UN Scribe spoke today, May 4, when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
He said: “yesterday, I visited Maiduguri where the United Nations is supporting the internally displaced. I was deeply moved by their stories and struggles.
“These include the struggles with hunger, with the World Food Programme projecting 4.1 million people in the North East of Nigeria to be food insecure in the upcoming lean season.”
Guterres said that the United Nations had called for an additional 351 million dollars as part of the overall 1.1 billion dollars for the humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.
“But despite all they have seen and endured, the people I met remain hopeful and committed to returning to their communities and resuming their lives. To that end, I welcome the establishment of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North East.
“This spirit of hope amidst hardship – and solidarity in struggle – was also at the centre of my discussions with the Presidency today.’’
The UN Scribe also discussed with President Buhari on the laying of groundwork to ensure peaceful and democratic elections next year, as well as the full participation of Nigeria’s women and young people.
Responding, President Buhari said that Nigeria remains grateful to the United Nations and some world leaders on their steadfast partnership in fighting terrorism.
He said that the spotlight on Russia and Ukraine could easily distract from other pertinent global challenges.
He said that Nigeria and the African continent were already concerned that the attention on Russia and Ukraine would crowd out other issues, but that the ongoing visit of the UN scribe clearly showed that “the world has not forgotten us.”
The President said that terrorism remains a threat to global peace, security and progress, with many already killed, while millions had been displaced by the insurgents over many years.
“When we assumed office, the North-East was the major security problem we inherited in 2015, but we have been able to make people understand that you cannot kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar,’ (God is great!).
“It is either you don’t know what you are saying or you are simply stupid. God is a God of justice, so you cannot kill people and say God is great. Luckily the people understood our message and it has made great impact.”
President Buhari told the UN scribe that the government had started a gradual, but steady process of resettlement and reintegration where citizens get encouraged to return to their farms, businesses and other pursuits in life.
The President thanked the Secretary General for the maiden visit to Nigeria.
