John Alechenu, Chukwudi Akasike, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Success Nwogu, Olaleye Aluko, Tunji Bosun, Godwin Isenyo and Raphael Ede

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday wrote another letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, warning that a Rwanda-like genocide was looming in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, in the four-page letter released by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said President Buhari must open up the public space for debates and dialogues, the outcome of which he stated should form the basis for a national conference.

The ex-President stated that Buhari must be seen to be addressing killings by herdsmen and other issues “with utmost seriousness and with maximum dispatch and getting all hands on deck to help.”

According to him, the President will be held responsible for his failure to address the issues, which he warned could lead to a pogrom similar to the one that occurred in Rwanda.

During the Rwandan civil war, there was a mass slaughter of Tutsi ethnic group and moderate Hutu between April 7 and July 15, 1994.


In his letter, Obasanjo recalled that prominent Nigerians and groups, including a Nigerian merit laureate, Prof. Anya O. Anya, the Niger-Delta leaders, South-East leaders, Middle-Belt leaders and Northern Elders’ Forum had called for measures to address killings by herdsmen and other forms of insecurity in the country.

The ex-President quoted Anya to have said, “We can no longer say with certainty that we have a nation.”

Obasanjo warned that the calls by groups and individuals could only be ignored at the expense of Nigeria’s unity, if not its continued existence.


Four calamities await Nigeria – Obasanjo

The former President said four calamities awaited Nigeria, if the President failed to act with maximum dispatch.

He stated, “To be explicit and without equivocation, Mr President and General, I am deeply worried about four avoidable calamities:

“1. Abandoning Nigeria into the hands of criminals who are all being suspected, rightly or wrongly, as the Fulani and terrorists of Boko Haram type;


“2. Spontaneous or planned reprisals against the Fulani which may inadvertently or advertently mushroom into pogrom or a Rwanda-type genocide that we did not believe could happen and yet it happened;

“3. Similar attacks against any other tribe or ethnic group anywhere in the country initiated by rumours, fears, intimidation and revenge capable of leading to pogrom;
“4. Violent uprising beginning from one section of the country and spreading quickly to other areas and leading to dismemberment of the country.”
Obasanjo said the issue he addressed in the letter could no longer be ignored or treated “with cuddling gloves.”

He added, “The issue is hitting at the foundation of our existence as Nigerians and fast eroding the root of our Nigerian community. I am very much worried and afraid that we are on the precipice and dangerously reaching a tipping point where it may no longer be possible to hold danger at bay.”
He stated that in spite of the Buhari administration’s claim of victory over the Boko Haram terrorist sect, the activities of the insurgents had been potent and remained “undiminished, putting a lie to the government’s claim.”

Obasanjo stated, “The recent explanation of the Chief of Army Staff for non-victory due to lack of commitment and lack of motivation on the part of the troops bordering on sabotage speaks for itself. Say what you will, Boko Haram is still a daily issue of insecurity for those who are victimised, killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped, sold into slavery and forced into marriage and for children forcibly recruited into carrying bombs on them to detonate among crowds of people to cause maximum destruction and damage.”