Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and incumbent President of Nigeria Mohammadu Buhari in whose watch Nigeria appears to be depleting
Fearless former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that Nigeria under President Buhari is becoming a failed state. This is not the first time Obasanjo who also ruled Nigeria as military head of state and civilian president is hitting out on President Buhari who most Nigerians see as a sectional leader.
Obasanjo has been critical of President Buhari’s administration as he had expressed his worries through series of letters, which he also made open to all Nigerians. Again, the Otta, Abeokuta in Ogun State born retired military general who spoke at an interactive session with some socio-cultural groups in Abuja, accused Buhari and his All Progressive Congress (APC) party of mismanaging the socio-economic development of the country.
Vintage Obasanjo was quoted to have said, “Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state, economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country. And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country.
“Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere. It would appear that anybody not dancing to the drum beat nor joining in chorus singing would be earmarked as ethnically unpatriotic or enemy of its tribe or geographical area,” Obasanjo stated.
The general who is probably the only former leader that is standing up to the Buhari/APC government and does not mince words in telling them barefaced truth continued, “In short, the country is fast moving to the precipice. But happily, I observed that the five socio-cultural political groups gathered here have been getting together to find common ground, areas of agreement or accord for moving Nigeria away from tipping over.
“Before continuing, let me say that we must remind those who are beating the drums of disintegration and singing choruses of bitterness, anger and separation that if even Nigeria is broken up, the separated parts will still be neighbours. And they will have to find accommodation as neighbours or they will be forever at war. And those who prevent justice to be done invite violence to reign.”
The former president therefore called for a national dialogue as people are still keeping old biases and prejudices especially since the down of the APC government led by President Buhari even since they assumed office.
