Former heads of state, General Olusegun
Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida have expressed concern over the growing
insecurity in the country, saying “Nigeria is currently under fear and
uncertainty.”
In a joint statement obtained by our
correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, they warned that the consequences were
capable of affecting the unity of the country.
They said the loss of innocent lives
being experienced across the country was no longer bearable.
The two leaders said, “The loss of
innocent lives by the day across the nation is simply unbearable.
“Currently, the nation is gripped by
a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties
going about their normal day-to-day activities with great anxiety and
trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
They said unfolding events had posed
threats to the labour of the nation’s founding fathers and subsequent
generations in building a strong, united, peaceful country that can accommodate
and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities.
Obasanjo and Babangida also lamented
the untold hardship in the country.
They claimed that a deeply worrying
trend that was emerging from this terrible situation was that a pervasive
cynicism was beginning to set in, so much so that millions of true Nigerian
patriots were starting to question the platform upon which the unity of the
country rests.
However, they appealed to Nigerians
not to allow frustration, fear and despair to supersede their hope for a
collective destiny, which lies in their continued existence as a nation.
Both leaders declared that as for
them, and some millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of Nigeria was
not only priceless but non-negotiable.
Their statement reads in part, “While
we are very much aware of the efforts various governments in the country are
making to confront the escalating security challenges across the country, we
believe that it is time that these efforts are scaled up to be more involving
and inclusive.
“In this regard, whatever robust
security measures are put in place to contain the situation, as is normal in
such circumstances; they must be complemented with an equally intensive process
of community involvement.
“We therefore urge all governments in
the country, starting with all the 774 local councils to comprehensively engage
their communities at the various levels, including elders, youth organisations,
trade union and associations, women bodies, clerics and other community
stakeholders.
“We also call on the Federal and
state governments not only to encourage these grass roots engagements for peace
and beneficial coexistence but should work out the framework to sustain the
engagement.”
They said that in all these efforts,
it was important to emphasise that Nigeria’s diversity should be a course for
celebration and not a cause for lamentations.
Both leaders, who recently abused
each other on the pages of newspapers, however appealed to Nigerians to use the
holy month of Ramadan to turn the tide against insecurity, violence and hatred.
They also appealed to religious
leaders, in particular, to have an even greater challenge to use the immense
virtues of this holy period to inculcate among the millions of citizens, the
spirit of mutual respect, humility and forgiveness.
They furthermore revealed that ample
opportunities were at hand to bring all armed belligerents to table for
meaningful dialogue with the authorities for Nigerians’ future.
Obasanjo and Babangida added that no
meaningful development could ever occur in an atmosphere of violence and
hatred.
History, they said, had shown that
any society built on the structures of violence and intolerance would not
prosper.
While they said that God has blessed
Nigeria with abundant resources and talents, they however said there must be
peace and harmony to harness them.
They also said they were ready to do
whatever was possible to promote the quest for peace and harmony in the
country.