National Assembly frowns at Ife ethnic clashes; asks Police boss to deal with perpetrators

By Francis Etuko
The Senate has charged the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to ensure proper prosecution of the perpetrators of the Sabo-Ife ethnic clash which led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira last week Wednesday in Ile Ife, Osun State.
Senator Jibrin Barau motion on the ethnic clash informed the Senate position.
In his motion, Barau noted with dismay the recent clash/ skirmishes in Ile-Ife, Osun state between the indigenes of the town and the Hausa community in a dispute said to be essentially between two persons.
The clash, he said, came at a time when strenuous efforts are being made to build bridges of understanding between and among all ethnic groups in the country .
Senator Shehu Sani said since 1914 when Nigeria became an amalgamated entity and 1960 when the country gained independence there has always been series of clashes which threaten the country’s unity and now democracy in the country.
He said ‘‘ Victims of violence are victims of our inaction and victims of our refusal to take concrete steps to avert ethnic disorder’’
A very disturbed Senator James Manager said ‘‘ As a Nigerian I am terribly disturbed by what happened in Ife, we have a chequered history which is closely related to what occurred in Ife’’
‘‘Why must Nigerians be attacked within the country, it sends very wrong signal to the international community’’
After hearing the contributions of lawmakers, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, reminded lawmakers that the framers of the constitution were emphatic on the right of Nigerians to reside in any part of the country.
He said ‘‘ section 42 of the constitution says no one should be discriminated upon, each of us have somuch to contribute to the country, we must take advantage of our stay in any part of the country, including contesting for elections.