Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday warned that every insecurity situation in Nigeria must be taken seriously and be addressed at once without favouritism or cuddling.
Obasanjo, who spoke on the topic, “Mobilizing Nigeria’s human& natural resources for national development and stability” also said both Boko Haram and herdsmen acts of violence were not treated as they should at the beginning.
“It is no longer an issue of lack of education and lack of employment for our youths in Nigeria which it began as, it is now West African fulanization, African Islamization and global organized crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.
“Yet, we could have dealt with both earlier, and nib them in the bud, but Boko Haram boys were seen as rascals not requiring serious attention in administering holistic measures of stick and carrot.
“Soldiers were poorly trained for the unusual mission, poorly equipped, poorly motivated, poorly led and made to engage in propaganda rather than achieving results.
“Intelligence was poor and governments embarked on games of denials while paying ransoms which strengthened the insurgents and yet governments denied payments of ransoms. Today, the insecurity issue has gone beyond the wit and capacity of Nigerian Government or even West African Governments”.
He stressed, “There should be no sacred cow. Some of the groups that I will suggest to be contacted are: Traditional rulers, past heads of Service Chiefs (no matter how competent or incompetent they have been and how much they have contributed to the mess we are in), past heads of paramilitary or organizations, private sector, civil society , community leaders particularly in the most affected areas, present and past governors, present and past local government leaders, religious leaders, past Heads of States, past Intelligence Chiefs, past heads of Civil Service and.relevant current and retired diplomats, members of opposition and nay groups that may be deemed relevant.
“After we have found appropriate solution internally, we should move to bilateral, multinational, regional, co.tinental and global levels. With ISIS involvement, we cannot but go global.
“Let me hasten to add that we must be at the appropriate seat at the table of international discourse, deliberations, agenda and action.”
Speaking on the theme for this year’s synod is “Work, night comes – John 9:4&5”, the Bishop of Oleh Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt.Rev. John Aruakpor, in a sermon, charged his audience to make haste and serve God while they are still alive stressing that, “no one knows when, where and how death will meet them.
(C) Daily Post
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