Obasanjo’s Comments: 'A Call for Genocide, Civil War'

Olusegun Obasanjo

Following the comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was weak and had failed to take decisive military action against the Boko Haram insurgency like he (Obasanjo) did in Zaki Biam and Odi, a group under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Patriots has said that the comment was irresponsible and a call to civil war and genocide.

Similarly, Human Right Writers' Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has laid the crisis and the killing associated with Boko Haram in the North-east region of the country on the door step of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

Obasanjo had in Warri during a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of Ayo Oritsejifor’s church chided President Goodluck Jonathan over the management of the Boko Haram security challenges. He said that Jonathan ought to have taken a decisive action, as he did in the Odi and Zaki Biam episode when he was the President.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the chairman and secretary of Coalition of Northern Patriot, Alhaji Ali Abacha and Engr. Ibn Ahmed Mohammed said "there is no better way to plunge the nation to crisis and even civil war than the obasanjo's call for the destruction of the North."

The northern group further said that it was unfortunate that Obasanjo was advocating, yet again, the "callous destruction of the innocent citizens and their properties as a mark of strong leadership."

They wondered how Obasanjo could take pride in what has remained a stain in the human rights record of the nation in the destruction of Odi and Zaki Biam, adding, "We condemn Obasanjo's call for the destruction of the Muslim in the entity and call on all Nigerians to condemn this unpatriotic call."