2019: OBJ Fumes Again, Buhari Confused Over Insecurity
- Writes Northern Elders on state of the nation
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Six months after his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari triggered flaming reactions from critics and admirers alike, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written another scathing letter describing the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s administration as ‘confused’, ‘incompetent’ and ‘divisive’.
Focused on the state of the nation, Chief Obasanjo’s latest letter comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure from opposition parties for a coalition to take the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) out of power in 2019 and is addressed to the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi.
According to the letter, “The obvious indication is that the government is seemingly confused and has got to the end of its tether and the nation is being left divisively and perilously to drift.”
Former Governor of Osun State and a key member of Obasanjo’s founded African Democratic Party (ADP), Olagunsoye Oyinlola, delivered the message at a summit of National Elders and Leaders of Nigeria held on Wednesday in Abuja.
In the NEF’s letter, Obasanjo again raised the gear of his cutting attack on the Buhari administration, claiming that some of the policies have unfortunately divided Nigerians along religious and regional lines, thereby posing “a serious danger to the country’s democracy”.
According to the former President, “Nigeria, in recent times, has not been so divided along religious and regional lines as at today with inexcusable killings and devastating poverty and with government’s wringing hands and apparently incompetent to stem the tide except giving one unrighteous and unacceptable justification after the other.
“Earlier last week, I noted in a speech some undesirable elements being allowed and being introduced to our democracy by this administration and if these are not stopped, they could be the death knell of our democracy.”
He however admitted that despite “these unfortunate situations created by the government, my contact and consultation, which brought me face-to-face with people’s plight and frustration, also gave me hope”, adding that; “People are not ready to give up in despair and leave their fate and their present and future in the hands of inept leadership for their lives to be ruined.”
Also, in condemning recent killings in part of the country, Chief Obasanjo maintained that Nigerians urgently need non-partisan dialogue to save the future generation.
Though the letter noted worrying issues in the country, it expressed hope that things can get better with focused governance and people-oriented policies, adding; “I see common concern across the nation irrespective of tribe, religion, region, language and social standing that the situation should be retrieved and the nation should be saved,” – With NAN reports
