Former heads of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida have expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the country, saying “Nigeria is currently under fear and uncertainty.”
In a joint statement obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, they warned that the consequences were capable of affecting the unity of the country.
They said the loss of innocent lives being experienced across the country was no longer bearable.
The two leaders said, “The loss of innocent lives by the day across the nation is simply unbearable.
“Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day-to-day activities with great anxiety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
They said unfolding events had posed threats to the labour of the nation’s founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful country that can accommodate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities.
Obasanjo and Babangida also lamented the untold hardship in the country.
They claimed that a deeply worrying trend that was emerging from this terrible situation was that a pervasive cynicism was beginning to set in, so much so that millions of true Nigerian patriots were starting to question the platform upon which the unity of the country rests.
However, they appealed to Nigerians not to allow frustration, fear and despair to supersede their hope for a collective destiny, which lies in their continued existence as a nation.
Both leaders declared that as for them, and some millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of Nigeria was not only priceless but non-negotiable.
Their statement reads in part, “While we are very much aware of the efforts various governments in the country are making to confront the escalating security challenges across the country, we believe that it is time that these efforts are scaled up to be more involving and inclusive.
“In this regard, whatever robust security measures are put in place to contain the situation, as is normal in such circumstances; they must be complemented with an equally intensive process of community involvement.
“We therefore urge all governments in the country, starting with all the 774 local councils to comprehensively engage their communities at the various levels, including elders, youth organisations, trade union and associations, women bodies, clerics and other community stakeholders.
“We also call on the Federal and state governments not only to encourage these grass roots engagements for peace and beneficial coexistence but should work out the framework to sustain the engagement.”
They said that in all these efforts, it was important to emphasise that Nigeria’s diversity should be a course for celebration and not a cause for lamentations.
Both leaders, who recently abused each other on the pages of newspapers, however appealed to Nigerians to use the holy month of Ramadan to turn the tide against insecurity, violence and hatred.
They also appealed to religious leaders, in particular, to have an even greater challenge to use the immense virtues of this holy period to inculcate among the millions of citizens, the spirit of mutual respect, humility and forgiveness.
They furthermore revealed that ample opportunities were at hand to bring all armed belligerents to table for meaningful dialogue with the authorities for Nigerians’ future.
Obasanjo and Babangida added that no meaningful development could ever occur in an atmosphere of violence and hatred.
History, they said, had shown that any society built on the structures of violence and intolerance would not prosper.
While they said that God has blessed Nigeria with abundant resources and talents, they however said there must be peace and harmony to harness them.
They also said they were ready to do whatever was possible to promote the quest for peace and harmony in the country.
OLUSOLA FABIYI | PUNCH
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Please kindly inform the two generals that,they shoulld not deviate our minds once More.they should allow us treat the fuel subsidy probe first before they create another scene.nigerians should always think outside the box when people like this come out to utter words.they were past H.O.S,do. They have any foundation to help the masses ever since,rather they have cash transporters foundation for their personal greed.it is well.
these two old men are fools.is it now,after they have their own opportunities as then heads of state to transform and make things right in Nigeria but failed to do so that they now suddenly realized that we need unity to exist together as a nation?idiots
I think…if those two geriatic bomboclats really want a change,then they should first..return EVERYTHING they stole,go on 40 days dry fast …and offer themselves for execution like d chinese!! Maybe then…we might forgive them!btw d 2 of them,nigeria is enmeshed in the quagmire we are in 2day.But for d grace of GOD!! War for don finish us…
the two generals are claiming that, there is hardship n unrest In the country.That is a known fact.what have they both contributed to ease the hardship on more than 80% of the population who feed on less than $1 per day.Mohammed ibb spend more 20 million per month to maintain his passion for polo,likewise segun obj. At the expense of hungry children in far north ,east and south who’s normal vital vitamins are absence . Not to talk of a functioning primary health care centre.Non of these two generals have a function to address these problems.50bedroom apartment should be converted into an hospital.They fears are that people are getting more aware of their plots.Revolution is smelling.
These leaders have one way or the other contributed to the volatile situation we found ourselves today. It is quite fascinating that they may have repented and now see the realities ordinary Nigerians face on daily basis.
Nigerians imbible that spirit of forgiveness that IBB and Obasanjo had spoken about. We must love ourselves if not for anything but for the fact that we share a common identity and that we ordinary Nigerians are the same victims of bad leadership.
Our religious and tribal differences has nothing to do with our economic situation. We need to look deeper to know where the real problems of Nigeria lies. These leaders have hit the nail on the head and the responsibility now lies on the shoulders of those who have the instruments of political, social, economic and judicial powers to construct a society where laws are obeyed, fairness are upheld, justice dispensed without fear or favour and where Nigerians will have a sense of social inclusion.
This two old men should be reminded that they have no moral justification to comment on the state of the nation, they are both instrumental to the decadence we are experiencing as a nation. Someone should remind OBJ that he “do-or-diely” installed yaradua and GEJ as president knowing fully well that they are not capable of moving this country forward. They will both be consumed in the looming revolution.
Whatever befall Nigerians today Obasanjo should be blamed for it. Because he foisted Yar’adua and Jonathan on Nigerians for reasons best known to him. Nigeria is endowed with both human and natural resources that would have made her among greatest nations of the world. Nigerian problems, i believe is greatly traceble to systemic leadership failure. Since independence, Nigerians were never given the honour to chat the way forward as they consider necessary and appropriate for their continous existence as people and a nation. The security challenges bedevilling some part of Nigeria, is one of such systemic leadership failure which allows settler and indigene asymetrics which lives one as first and the second class citizens. Time has come Nigerians therefore to demand to write the wrongs of the past.
For half a century, Nigeria has continually thrived on injustices and vices (political,social,economic,etc) with judgement day postponed. GEJ is not d cause of nigeria’s problems but must bear d heat and pray not 2 b consumed.i dare say that Nigeria has had no leaders, with exception of Gowon and Murtala, only rulers. Nigeria is on fire. IBB & OBJ r playing presently d Distraction game (insecurity).They r hiding something. Y break d silence all of a sudden. GEJ must expose & bring 2 justice d fuel subsidy cabal & corruption in high places. To b Followed by a true people-constitution. Nigeria is either on d brink of imminent collapse or d verge of moral rebirth
Dear Devils.
For meaningful development, the Corrupt Leaders (Ex & Present) with their boys in and around gov’ts should make the atmosphere a FREE CORRUPT ONE.
Because, history had shown that any society built on the structures of Corruption and Justice that is not blind of status would not prosper.
IBB nd Obasanjo international thief thief.. Is dishearten dat nigeria has deteriorated to dis unbearable level, where citizen can nt move freely on d street without being overwhelmed with phobia, u can not sit comfortably in ur ofice without nursing fear about d identity of ur next client or person dat may enter ur ofice and u can sleep with ur two eye closd bcos u may be d next victim of norcturnal Bad boys. All des are products of bad leadership and dey are generated by d two gigantic arm robbers calld OBJ nd IBB. If now dey realise der misdeeds, dey suld first convert all der aclaimed properties to puplic properties nd tender unreserv apology to d entire masses dat der self agradisement has made der life miserable nd uncertain. Now, north nigeria has turn to abattoir where human being ar being Killd lik cow evryday our security apparatus is nothin to write about, officers also fall victim of being Killd evryday, now, if those responsible for our protection are being killd on daily basis wat is going to be d faith of do dey ar protectin? dis is d rheotorical question dat we need to ask oursef. To solve dis problem IBB suld relocate to Maiduguri nd Obasanjo suld go to Kano den changes will come
These 2 old men should ask themselves some simple questions,and then come out publicly to answer those questions before they give any advice or opinions;
1) When their opinions were the most important in the country what did they do with it?
2)Do their past actions or inactions have anything to do with the level of insecurity in the country?
3)Are they willing to return the stolen billions in their custody that ought to have been used to educate the people,create jobs and avert this level of poverty,and in essence avert this level of insecurity?
If they they will keep quiet on these questions,they should keep quiet on every other matter.THEY HAVE FAILED US!
The 2 Generals may nt b saints but they re talkin sense, we need to exploit all available avenues dat can turn d fortune of dis country.
Hmmm… The two most cunning men in the country have spoken.What a disgrace,they have the temerity to discussing abt the insecurity and eco. woes in the country.
They both have enough time to turn the fortune of the country around but they blew it up….corruption,black out, insecurity, unemployment,dead road,unaffordable houses,paralysed health sector,mass illiterate,breeds lootocrats….The country is so much blessed but also blessed wit d most greediest leadershp that compete wit loots monies!
Though, I agree with most observers of Nigeria as a nation that the leaders, both past and present have not served the people well, but it is time to stop hoping on these leaders and look a way to remove them from office and chat a new direction for the country. IBB and OBJ definitely contributed to this mess but we need them as elder statesmen to participate in pushing for the younger generation that will provide the needed leadership for the nation.
Two of them fought against Biafra in the Nigerian Civil War. The Biafrans are still being marginalised, oppressed and massacred in their thousands in Northern Nigeria. Elements from the North are threatening our continued ‘existence of convenience’, asking for a separation from the South of Nigeria. Yet they (obj & ibb) still want Nigeria to be one. How? Do they want God to read the writing on the wall out to them? *smh