Insecurity In Nigeria, OBASANJO Plans Another Letter To Buhari

There are strong indications that former President
Olusegun Obasanjo may summon a meeting intended to
discuss the security situation in the country, among other
burning issues of national concern. According to
presidency sources, the meeting, scheduled to hold either
on Tuesday, 14th December, or Wednesday, 15th, in
Abuja, has the capacity to inflame passions, allegedly
cause ethno- religious tensions, with consequential
negative effect on national security and unity of the
country, which authorities have continued to insist, is non-
negotiable.
The sources, who spoke in confidence, said the meeting
will hold, barring any last minute change in plan by the
respected former ex-president (1999 – 2007), Head of
State (1976 – 1979).
This was as they wondered why the ex-Nigerian leader,
pan-Africanist, and personality of global repute, will
contemplate such a move, at a time when all men and
women of good conscience were expected to join hands
with government, in a bid to solve the challenges
confronting the nation. As at the time of filing this report, it
was gathered that Chief Obasanjo has already sent out
letters of invitation preparatory to the colloquium. Among
the dignitaries invited to be part of the conference, all
things being equal, is a former Head of State, who has
been actively involved in peace advocacy, and national
unity. Before the meeting, he may meet with respected
Ijaw leader and former federal commissioner for
information, Chief Edwin Clark.
This newspaper recalls that, sometime in August, a socio-
cultural group, the Yoruba for One Nigeria Forum, YONF,
had challenged the elder statesman on the need to come
clean on allegations that he was lobbying Benin Republic
Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemi (aka Igboho), from
possible prosecution. “We are aware that an ex-President
and one of the leaders of this nation,Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, has concluded plans to meet with interest
groups, and former Heads of State “Prior to the planned
meeting, he intends to meet with Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin
Clark on the 13th of December next week.
This is after an earlier meeting he proposed with former
Heads of State could not hold, ostensibly due to
circumstances of the time”, one of the sources said.
Another source, who spoke in similar vein, noted thus: “He
intends to invite former leaders to the scheduled meeting.
“Truth is, the resolution (s) from the planned meeting, may
serve as a platform to (allegedly) discredit the
government. “Definitely, the former leader will cause a
letter to be written to the President alleging deteriorating
security situation in the country.
“Now, here are the likely implications of the scheduled
parley: “Likelihood of heating up the polity, cause political
tension, as well as ethno-religious divisions. “It also has
the capacity of triggering disunity, disloyalty to civil
authority, after (allegedly) painting the government as
weak and incapable of discharging its responsibilities to
the citizens. “Ultimately, this may lead to civil
disobedience, the resultant effect of which remains
unpredictable,if history is anything to rely on. “You may,
please, recall that the respected elder statesman is given
to writing Open Letters to Leaders, especially towards the
end of their tenures, preparatory to crucial elections”.