Restructuring: Ex-president Obasanjo warns of violent uprising
- Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's ex-leader, is worried that the country may fall into a deep crisis over debates on its unity
- The former military general and one-time head of state, urged incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, to put a stop to the unhealthy debate
- Obasanjo noted that if Boko Haram has remained undefeated in 10 years, a war of self-determination between different ethnic groups would last longer
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the current debates about restructuring the nation.
The ex-Nigerian leader is worried that if the restructuring debate generates any further, it could lead to violence as groups move for self-governance.
Obasanjo made the statement at the inaugural anniversary lecture of the late founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Frederick Fasehun.
The former military general warned the President-Muhammadu-Buhari administration to quickly manage the situation before it gets worse.
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“There is still a window of opportunity for us to nip in the bud, a possible and indeed likely agitation for self-determination that will be violent, destructive and all-empowering.
“We have descended to lack of civility bordering on civilization, indignity, mutual disrespect and crudity in the language of our debate, dialogue, discourse, address, comments and remarks across tribe, section, religion, ethnicity and community. If not halted, it will degenerate and poison the atmosphere to the tipping point or point of no return,” Obasanjo warned.
Legit.ng notes that the debate of restructuring, explaining why different regions of the country should either be autonomous or at least self-reliant within the Nigerian union has been a major conversation in the country's polity for some years now.
Obasanjo, a well-known critic of the Buhari administration, had written several times to the incumbent president in the past urging action on different he issues he deemed important.
Some Nigerians thought the two leaders had reconciled their differences when Buhari and Obasanjo met at the opening ceremony of the 33rd African Union summit in Addis Ababa, on Sunday, February 9.
President Buhari had left Nigeria for the summit on Friday, February 7, alongside state governors like Hope Uzodinma of Imo and Ben Ayade of Cross River.
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Others in the president's entourage are some senators and top officials in the ministry of foreign affairs including Geoffrey Onyeama.
Obasanjo's words were similar to the ones he said in July 2019 when wrote a letter to Buhari, telling him to put an end to violent attacks across Nigeria.
The former president said the world was warning Nigeria against descending into a state of violence because any outbreak would be difficult to contain.
According to Obasanjo, Boko Haram has menacingly ravaged the land and in spite of government’s claim of victory over Boko Haram, the potency and the activities of the terrorist group, where they are active, remain undiminished, putting a lie to government’s claim.
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