Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned against the present tension in the country degenerating into a war situation.
Obasanjo spoke while responding to the wave of violent agitation in the Eastern part of the country for Biafra republic led by Nnamdi Kanu, Obasanjo in an interview with Newsweek Magazine in London.
“Those who fought in the war in Biafra will not want to fight any other war,” he said adding that “I have fought one war too many in Nigeria; I don’t want to see another.”
While noting that the army’s “heavy boot” response to pro-Biafra sentiment is “not the solution,” he also said that the secession craved by IPOB is not the way forward either.
To resolve the crisis, Obasanjo said there was nothing wrong with President Muhammadu Buhari meeting with Kanu.
“I don’t see anything wrong in that [Buhari meeting with Kanu]. I would not object to that; if anything, I would encourage it,” Obasanjo told Newsweek.
“I would want to meet Kanu myself and talk to people like him, people of his age, [and ask:] ‘What are your worries?’ Not only from the southeast but from all parts of Nigeria.
“We need to satisfy the youth in job creation, in wealth creation, in giving them a better, fulfilled life, in giving them hope for the future,” Obasanjo said adding that “There’s no easy way out.”
OBJ, the youths are only asking for restructuring of Nigeria. The way Nigeria is today is not working. Let us sit down and discuss and find a way forward. War is not the answer. While in office you failed to restructure the country. Even IBB have voiced his support for restructuring the Nation. Once Nigeria is restructured, quota system regarding employment will not be more of an issue. Those going to Centre/FG will be elected by each region. Not these half baked cakes we have now at federal level.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you Mr. Anonymous. Baba knows the truth but doesn't want to speak it. The youths of this country don't want war. We want a restructured Nigeria where justice, equity and dignity are watchwords.
DeleteIt's either restructuring or disintegration. Nobody is asking for war.
ReplyDeleteWherever people are agitating like this, there is some degree of injustice going on. It should be addressed before it gets out of hand completely. We are gradually drifting into anarchy. Something needs to be urgently done to stem this drift! I believe restructuring was in the manifesto of the ruling APC? Why are they now developing cold feet about it? Did they fly that kite just to get the votes? If so, that is fraudulent.
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