Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has observed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is confused and has left Nigeria perilously adrift.
His observation came as leaders and elders of major socio-political groups met in Abuja on Wednesday to fashion a way out of what they said is a leadership failure, which they observed has led to incessant killings across the country.
The summit was at the instance of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) led by the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi.
Other participants were Ohanaze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and North East Forum for Unity and Development, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and New Generation Representatives (NGR).
The former president was represented by former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who read the president’s letter originally addressed to Prof. Abdullahi as the Convener of the summit.
Obasanjo who said he could not be physically present because of a prior engagement in China, recalled how he and Ango Abdullahi during the NEF’s chairman visit to him weeks ago, had deliberated on “the danger to our democracy, our common identity, our commonality of purpose, our dream and our unity in diversity.”
The former president said: “We lamented the harm that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, by his action and inaction, has done and is doing to our commonwealth and our common heritage.
“Nigeria, in recent times, has not been so divided along religious and regional lines as at today with inexcusable killings and devastating poverty and with Government’s wringing hands and apparently incompetent to stem the tide except giving one unrighteous and unacceptable justification after the order.
“The obvious indication is that the government is seemingly confused and has got to the end of its tether and the nation is being left divisively and perilously to drift.
“Earlier last week, I noted in a speech some undesirable elements being allowed and being introduced to our democracy by this administration.
“If these are not stopped, they could be the death knell of our democracy. In spite of this unfortunate situation created by the government, my contact and consultation, which brought me face-to-face with peoples’ plights and frustration, also gave me hope.
“People are not ready to give up in despair and leave their fate and their present and future in the hands of inept leadership for their lives to be ruined.
- Nigerian Tribune