Nigeria might break up after 2023 — Obasanjo

as Benue leaders seek former President’s support, prominent Nigerians to end orgies of killings

By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo says leaders must ensure the 2023 birth emergence of a new federation in Nigeria otherwise the country may be “sliding into ground dissolution.”

Obasanjo who bemoaned insecurity challenges, insisted that 2023 must mark a watershed for Nigeria.

He spoke on Wednesday at his Penthouse residence within Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while playing host to members of Tiv Professionals Group (TPG) led by Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu.

“I do believe that whatever else we do we have to make the year 2023 a watershed for Nigeria. The year 2023 should give us the beginning of emergence of a new federation or feeling that the rot continues, and then, we are going to be sliding back to a ground dissolution. God forbid,” the former President said.

Obasanjo said he does not believe in payment of ransom to kidnappers and banditry as it encouraged criminals indulging in the act.

He specifically noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and that of his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan had paid ransom to kidnappers and bandits, but denied it.

He, however, submitted that the government must develop means to deal with kidnappers and bandits heavily in place of ransom payment.

The former President equally insisted that it requires a “carrot and stick” approach to fight insecurity challenges to a standstill.

He said “Some people are still reaching out, and hoping that lives can still be saved. But a situation whereby anybody thinks paying ransom is the way out, that person is folly. He is a folly. This is because when you pay ransom, you encourage. But if you are not going to pay ransom, you must have the means to deal heavily with it. You must have the stick to deal with it.

“Government has always paid ransom. Not only this government, even during Jonathan (administration). They paid ransom, but they denied it.”

While relaying the position of a military friend, Obasanjo expressed fears that those beating drums of division in Nigeria don’t think about the interest of the minority ethnic groups.

“And he would say to me if the Yorubas can stand as a country, if the Igbos can stand as a country, if the Hausas/Fulanis can stand as a country, if you major tribes decide to break up from the country, where do you want the minority ethnic groups to stand. That, many Nigerians don’t know about, unfortunately.

“Where do we want those minor groups to stand? Wherever they stand, now they are by virtue of Nigeria’s present situation a little bit protected. But if Nigeria breaks up and they are in a smaller country, they will be oppressed. They will always be exterminated. Are we thinking of that?

“I believe that if we will get it right in Nigeria, any leader must look at Nigeria through the prism of the diversity of Nigeria. For as long as you look at Nigeria with the prism of your ethnic group, then you aren’t going anywhere, either your ethnic group or religious group.

“But is there hope? There is hope.”

Presenting a paper earlier, leader of the group, Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu told Obasanjo that “blood is flowing in Benue State” following killings of the people allegedly by fulanis and bandits.

He said people are being maimed in their sleep and on their ancestral land, calling on Obasanjo and other influential Nigerians to rise to the occasion to stem the tide of killings.

While alleging skewed security architecture, Gundu said, “Nigeria seems to be losing the battle against insecurity.”

He, however, demanded that full compensation for the victims of killings and destruction in Tivland, proscription of armed fulani groups, while  “land grabbing must stop and all occupied lands must be vacated.”

Gundu also called for intensified advocacy against nomadic pastoralism and hosting “all Nationalities Summit” where issues would be discussed with a view to finding lasting solutions.

He said, “There are different shades of instability in the country. Nigeria is truly bleeding to death. There’s even a population fault-line which could lead to the ‘Lebanon Trap.’

“All Patriots must stand together; but if others have to be enslaved before the country can survive, we will prefer, as Tiv people, to take our destiny in our hands.


https://nigeriannewsdirect.com/nigeria-might-break-up-after-2023-obasanjo/

We will break up at our own convenience


Stop dictating

Who is. This man

Pls don't tell us what to do...

It seems the people supporting one Nigeria are bereft of any wisdom, such stack stupidity is unfounded in other parts of the world

So so we have been reading..

We don read this too.

Next

Recent happenings are pointing to such .


Every region is itching to go except the North.

They can take the name Nigeria though.

Sadly, We were never one

doggedfighter:
Recent happenings are pointing to such .


Every region is itching to go except the North.

They can take the name Nigeria though.

Each region will its separate ways

Then internal conflicts will begin to emerge.

It will be better

Good news
Arewa Republic should be visa free, Biafra should be visa on arrival.

Obasanjo said he does not believe in payment of ransom to kidnappers and banditry as it encouraged criminals indulging in the act.

He specifically noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and that of his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan had paid ransom to kidnappers and bandits, but denied it.

Fact from baba himself

Bodexman:


Each region will its separate ways

Then internal conflicts will begin to emerge.

They will tackle those internal conflicts.

No country is without internal conflicts but they tackle it using their own home grown methods. Let's get there first !

We are getting there gradually. Nigeria must be divided by any means possible. The minorities have two options; form their own country or decide join which of the emerging nations they feel comfortable with. How come only one part of Nigeria are killing people in thousands and people like OBJ are willing to still share the same country with them? It was under his regime that they started their sharia yet he did nothing. It's 21years down that lane and we have over 30,000 people murdered violently with no stoppage in sight. OBJ and Yakubu Gowon, how many more will die before you face reality? Posterity will judge both of you because you lost your voice when Christians are being massacred in their thousands. You claim to be Generals (rtd) yet so frightened to speak up in the face of such wanton destruction of lives and properties. Have you ever thought of how the situation will be in this same Nigeria you preach when you guys are no more? How will you feel in your graves that your ancestral lands have been overrun by jihadists without generals like you lifting a finger to stop it? What are you scared off? T.Y Danjuma courageously spoke up openly and called out those doing the killings. He went on to advice the people on practical things to do. He even made moves to help his people despite his age. History will be kind to him despite his ugly past but for both of you, if you don't speak up openly in the defence of the innocent people being killed, the young generation will curse you and your spirits will never be allowed to rest in peace.

Daddy please enough of that, we will not kill ourselves because of the union. Let them join the closest nation to them. We are not going to be tied down by any group. Benue can join Biafra if they want if not we don't care anymore. Kwara can join Arewa or Yoruba to think we are going to be waiting for anyone that is nonnegotiable.

helinues:
So so we have been reading..

We don read this too.

Next

What he (obasanjo) sees while sitting in his house,you wont see even from an aeroplane.

Conrod:
What he (obasanjo) sees while sitting in his house,you wont see even from an aeroplane.

Hahahahaha

Me that's watching from Moon.....

Bodexman:


Each region will its separate ways

Then internal conflicts will begin to emerge.

Who is afraid of internal conflicts. . aren't there same internal conflicts we are facing now?

Split the country and make it easier to manage!
It's for our good and good of generations unborn.

Seriously if another tribesman win the presidential seat in 2023,and things are still not okay,hausas may start their own agitation and it will spread so fast because other regions also are tired of them

illicit:
We will break up at our own convenience


Stop dictating

That generation of rulers will surely miss misruling Nigeria when they are here no more..
Even as they face their graves and with all the evil they have wrought over the years, they are still pontificating and decreeing what should be and what should not be...

tinubu who claims he has nowhere to go if nigeria break up can start learning french now cos his folks are already in replublic du benin. they have been given visa free pass thru ogun state land border with benin

THAT WILL BE PRAYER answered .