The immediate past governor of
Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has tongue-lashed Olusegun Obasanjo over the
former Nigerian president’s recent open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Obasanjo on Monday released a
letter to Mr Buhari, warning him of issues around national security and unity.
Mr Obasanjo accused the president
of negligence and not rising to the contemporary challenges bedevilling the
country.
But Mr Yari in a statement by his
media aide, Ibrahim Dosara, lampooned Mr Obasanjo and unnamed “Yoruba leaders”
for recent criticism of Mr Buhari’s handling of security issues.
The former governor accused Mr
Obasanjo of using the opportunity to pour “encapsulated anger” on Mr Buhari,
saying the former president has no better records.
“It was on record that President
Olusegun Obasanjo superintended the massacres in Zaki Biam in Benue State and
Odi in Bayelsa state.
“The murderous Sharia riots of
Kaduna occurred during his tenure. It was also during his regime that the seeds
of carnage on the Plateau was planted. He seems to have forgotten all these
‘remarkable’ feats he recorded as president. This is apart from the high
profile assassinations of a serving minister, Bola Ige, and opposition stalwart
Harry Marshall,” he said.
He said though it was “justifiable”
to express outrage over the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of
Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, he condemned “the sensationalisation of the
murder by the media, which quickly labelled the criminals as Fulani herdsmen”.
Mr Yari, who was chairman of the
Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), lamented that “prominent Yoruba political
leaders used the opportunity to make some divisive comments and called for the
dismemberment of Nigeria over the murder of the lady.”
He said Nigeria was not the only
country to experience security challenges, adding that the problem would not be
solved through passing blames.
“My keen observation of recent
political development across the country is pointing to a series of needless
efforts by some elements across the country aimed at destroying our rich
diversity and heritage for obvious political reasons.
“These efforts are targeted at
reducing the country into the feckless North-South divide,
first-class/second-class citizens, or Muslim/Christian dichotomy. This is
indeed worrisome and pointless at this time of Nigeria’s history and stage of
development,” the former governor noted.
Mr Yari, who has been accused of
mismanaging Zamfara funds while he was governor, urged leaders to avoid
comments capable of deepening the divisions in the country.
He did not state how Zamfara,
initially considered one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, became a
killing field during his tenure.
He, however, called on political
leaders to eschew bitterness.
“It is high time for all
political leaders to eschew bitterness and avoid using our fellow citizens as
guinea pigs in our ambitious political laboratories.”
He also called for support for
security agencies to enable them to perform the duties of maintenance of law
and order effectively.
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