ON OBASANJO’S OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI – THE NEED FOR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO EMBRACE HIS ADVICE, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND ACT IMMEDIATELY
June 16, 2021 | News
With regard to recent reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari about the current state of the nation, where he urged Buhari’s government to come to terms to the disturbing level of insecurity, Fulani Killer herdsmen/Bandits terrorist tendencies in the country,
-By Zik Gbemre
ON OBASANJO’S OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI – THE NEED FOR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO EMBRACE HIS ADVICE, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND ACT IMMEDIATELY
Regardless of what many think about him, the fact is that what Obasanjo sees sitting down, most Nigerian politicians cannot see while on the top of a skyscraper building or an Iroko tree… As such, his words and caution should be taken seriously by the Buhari-led administration…
Obasanjo’s cited four calamities that he said are waiting to happen in the country if Buhari’s government failed to act immediately, are already happening in different parts of the country…
If urgent decision and steps are not taken by the Buhari administration to address the insecurity in the country, what happened during the Rwandan genocide may play out in Nigeria…
With regard to recent reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari about the current state of the nation, where he urged Buhari’s government to come to terms to the disturbing level of insecurity, Fulani Killer herdsmen/Bandits terrorist tendencies in the country, and take prompt decisive decision before it is too late, I consider it necessary to reemphasize that the President Buhari-led administration should heed the advice given and act accordingly.
While many Nigerians believe that Obasanjo joined others to elect Buhari in 2015, but regardless, there is nothing wrong if he indeed supported Buhari to be elected as a civilian President. The question is, having supported Buhari to ascend the Presidency, should Obsanajo as an elder, keep silent if all is not well?
Though, many Nigerians believe that Obasanjo is one of the problems of Nigeria, and Obasanjo’s style of talking may be considered harsh by many, but the fact still remains that, in my opinion, he is still one, if not the most experienced Nigerian political leaders (both dead and alive), in the history of Nigeria’s politics. As such, what Obasanjo sees sitting down, most Nigerian politicians cannot see while on the top of a skyscraper building or an Iroko tree. So, hate him or love him; one thing that is sure as the sunset which we cannot deny, is the fact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in my opinion, can best be described as part of a “special breed” of past political leaders whose track, record and wealth of political experience has placed him on a separate path amongst his peers.
Perhaps, this is the reason the retired general has always lent his voice regarding the affairs of the happenings in the country; without fear or favour and regardless of what anybody thinks of him. And whether we like what he has to say or not, especially when it concerns the present administration, it is imperative for members of the National Assembly and the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to take Obasanjo’s ‘constructive criticisms’ and statements seriously; embracing that which will benefit the Nigerian masses particularly. So, it is absolutely good for our political leaders to ‘listen’ to the words of advice from Obsanjo, period, no argument about it.
In his said open letter to President Buhari, Obasanjo cited four calamities waiting to happen in the country if Buhari’s government failed to act immediately. These include letting Nigeria fall into the hands of suspected criminals, reprisal attacks on Fulanis across the country, attacks on other ethnic groups, as well as series of uprising in different sections of the country. And we all know that some of these things are already happening across different parts of the country. That in itself requires that this Buhari-led administration should act fast before things really get out of control.
He lamented that Boko Haram has continued to plague the country for over a decade, six years of which Buhari has been in power, adding that it was wrong to assume the war against insurgency was being won.
The former President noted that if urgent decision is not taken, what happened during the Rwandan genocide may play out in Nigeria.
Obasanjo disclosed that if the insecurity situation in the country is not handled properly, will lead to rain of destruction, violence, disaster and disunity. Bandits, kidnappers and all the other criminal elements and their sponsors, must be punished and brought to book for the Nigerian citizenry to take this administration serious.
This will not be the first time the former President has come out publicly to criticize different administration that came after him. He did so many times during the former President Goodluck Jonathan era. Of particular was his 18-page open letter tilted: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE to Jonathan in December 2013, where Obasanjo accused Jonathan of promoting deceit, corruption and mutual distrust ahead of national interest. Also, this would not be the first time Obasanjo has written an open letter to the Buhari-led Government. The last time Obasanjo wrote such an open letter to President Buhari, was towards the build-up of the 2019 Presidential election. Where he noted the Government’s gross incompetence, and charged President Muhammadu Buhari to sidestep calls for a second term and join him and other former leaders in the rank of statesmen.
President Obasanjo in a scorching 3,564-word statement letter to Buhari at that time, lamented that his hope that Buhari would help birth change when he supported him in 2015 had been grossly derailed in the face of what he said was the President’s failure to rise above his deficiencies. While affirming that he was not unaware of Buhari’s shortcomings in the areas of the economy and foreign affairs, areas he said he expected him to have sought help, President Obasanjo, however, blasted him for promoting clannishness in governance which had led to increased divisions in the polity and a culture of buck passing.
Who knows, if former President Jonathan had listened to all the advice and warnings Obasanjo had given him, the country’s economy might have fared better under him. But the point being made here is the fact that former President Obasanjo has been known to not just talk for talking sake. This makes whatever he says about Nigeria, such should not be taken lightly, casually or an attack on the government.
Agreed that Obasanjo is no saint; as he was guilty of some of the things, he has accused this administration of doing, during his times in office. But the undeniable fact is that the former president has made valid statements concerning past and the present administration, which President Buhari and his cabinet, and the National Assembly should take seriously.
The truth is that, to me, I think it is imperative and proper for the political leaders at the two levels of Government – National Assembly and Presidency, to often seek Obasanjo’s advice, opinion, views and ideas about issues affecting the nation, and how best to manage them. This becomes the best line of action since Obasanjo is more experienced and elderly in governments activities than them.
Considering the political background and leadership positions occupied by Obasanjo in the history of Nigeria, especially from 1966 to date, he is worth giving a lending ear and listened to every time he speaks on the affairs concerning the country. With the current problems facing Nigeria, the present administration surely needs to be open-minded to absorb whatever criticisms that comes from relevant stakeholders. President Buhari should not allow the pretenders/sycophants around him to make him see Obasanjo and other well-meaning stakeholders as ‘the enemy’, or those whose statements and advice should not be taken seriously.
Zik Gbemre.
June 16, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
ON OBASANJO’S OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI – THE NEED FOR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO EMBRACE HIS ADVICE, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND ACT IMMEDIATELY
Regardless of what many think about him, the fact is that what Obasanjo sees sitting down, most Nigerian politicians cannot see while on the top of a skyscraper building or an Iroko tree… As such, his words and caution should be taken seriously by the Buhari-led administration…
Obasanjo’s cited four calamities that he said are waiting to happen in the country if Buhari’s government failed to act immediately, are already happening in different parts of the country…
If urgent decision and steps are not taken by the Buhari administration to address the insecurity in the country, what happened during the Rwandan genocide may play out in Nigeria…
With regard to recent reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari about the current state of the nation, where he urged Buhari’s government to come to terms to the disturbing level of insecurity, Fulani Killer herdsmen/Bandits terrorist tendencies in the country, and take prompt decisive decision before it is too late, I consider it necessary to reemphasize that the President Buhari-led administration should heed the advice given and act accordingly.
While many Nigerians believe that Obasanjo joined others to elect Buhari in 2015, but regardless, there is nothing wrong if he indeed supported Buhari to be elected as a civilian President. The question is, having supported Buhari to ascend the Presidency, should Obsanajo as an elder, keep silent if all is not well?
Though, many Nigerians believe that Obasanjo is one of the problems of Nigeria, and Obasanjo’s style of talking may be considered harsh by many, but the fact still remains that, in my opinion, he is still one, if not the most experienced Nigerian political leaders (both dead and alive), in the history of Nigeria’s politics. As such, what Obasanjo sees sitting down, most Nigerian politicians cannot see while on the top of a skyscraper building or an Iroko tree. So, hate him or love him; one thing that is sure as the sunset which we cannot deny, is the fact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in my opinion, can best be described as part of a “special breed” of past political leaders whose track, record and wealth of political experience has placed him on a separate path amongst his peers.
Perhaps, this is the reason the retired general has always lent his voice regarding the affairs of the happenings in the country; without fear or favour and regardless of what anybody thinks of him. And whether we like what he has to say or not, especially when it concerns the present administration, it is imperative for members of the National Assembly and the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to take Obasanjo’s ‘constructive criticisms’ and statements seriously; embracing that which will benefit the Nigerian masses particularly. So, it is absolutely good for our political leaders to ‘listen’ to the words of advice from Obsanjo, period, no argument about it.
In his said open letter to President Buhari, Obasanjo cited four calamities waiting to happen in the country if Buhari’s government failed to act immediately. These include letting Nigeria fall into the hands of suspected criminals, reprisal attacks on Fulanis across the country, attacks on other ethnic groups, as well as series of uprising in different sections of the country. And we all know that some of these things are already happening across different parts of the country. That in itself requires that this Buhari-led administration should act fast before things really get out of control.
He lamented that Boko Haram has continued to plague the country for over a decade, six years of which Buhari has been in power, adding that it was wrong to assume the war against insurgency was being won.
The former President noted that if urgent decision is not taken, what happened during the Rwandan genocide may play out in Nigeria.
Obasanjo disclosed that if the insecurity situation in the country is not handled properly, will lead to rain of destruction, violence, disaster and disunity. Bandits, kidnappers and all the other criminal elements and their sponsors, must be punished and brought to book for the Nigerian citizenry to take this administration serious.
This will not be the first time the former President has come out publicly to criticize different administration that came after him. He did so many times during the former President Goodluck Jonathan era. Of particular was his 18-page open letter tilted: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE to Jonathan in December 2013, where Obasanjo accused Jonathan of promoting deceit, corruption and mutual distrust ahead of national interest. Also, this would not be the first time Obasanjo has written an open letter to the Buhari-led Government. The last time Obasanjo wrote such an open letter to President Buhari, was towards the build-up of the 2019 Presidential election. Where he noted the Government’s gross incompetence, and charged President Muhammadu Buhari to sidestep calls for a second term and join him and other former leaders in the rank of statesmen.
President Obasanjo in a scorching 3,564-word statement letter to Buhari at that time, lamented that his hope that Buhari would help birth change when he supported him in 2015 had been grossly derailed in the face of what he said was the President’s failure to rise above his deficiencies. While affirming that he was not unaware of Buhari’s shortcomings in the areas of the economy and foreign affairs, areas he said he expected him to have sought help, President Obasanjo, however, blasted him for promoting clannishness in governance which had led to increased divisions in the polity and a culture of buck passing.
Who knows, if former President Jonathan had listened to all the advice and warnings Obasanjo had given him, the country’s economy might have fared better under him. But the point being made here is the fact that former President Obasanjo has been known to not just talk for talking sake. This makes whatever he says about Nigeria, such should not be taken lightly, casually or an attack on the government.
Agreed that Obasanjo is no saint; as he was guilty of some of the things, he has accused this administration of doing, during his times in office. But the undeniable fact is that the former president has made valid statements concerning past and the present administration, which President Buhari and his cabinet, and the National Assembly should take seriously.
The truth is that, to me, I think it is imperative and proper for the political leaders at the two levels of Government – National Assembly and Presidency, to often seek Obasanjo’s advice, opinion, views and ideas about issues affecting the nation, and how best to manage them. This becomes the best line of action since Obasanjo is more experienced and elderly in governments activities than them.
Considering the political background and leadership positions occupied by Obasanjo in the history of Nigeria, especially from 1966 to date, he is worth giving a lending ear and listened to every time he speaks on the affairs concerning the country. With the current problems facing Nigeria, the present administration surely needs to be open-minded to absorb whatever criticisms that comes from relevant stakeholders. President Buhari should not allow the pretenders/sycophants around him to make him see Obasanjo and other well-meaning stakeholders as ‘the enemy’, or those whose statements and advice should not be taken seriously.
Zik Gbemre.
June 16, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes