Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the present government needs to heed the agitations of those clamouring for restructuring before such agitations develop into self-determination.

Speaking in Lagos on Saturday at the first memorial lecture organised in honour of the founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, the former President advised the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to heed the call now before it would be too late.

He said Nigeria could not afford to be plunged into another war because the nation might not survive the second civil war.

Obasanjo, who said insecurity was a major concern in Nigeria, commended the South-West governors for establishing the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun.

He particularly commended Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde “for his leadership on this matter and for sharing their thinking with me.”

The former President said no section of the country should think it would be easy to quell any other region that might want to secede if the agitation for restructuring was not addressed.


He stated that the agitation while he was in office was for true federalism but now it had changed to restructuring.

He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort of a National Conference did not even get to the National Assembly. Today, the agitation has moved up to restructuring. Thanks to Buhari’s administration and its impunity and all. With the fractional political division, poor management of the economy, the non-protecting security and the politics of uncertainty in the land, we should not allow restructuring agitation to degenerate to self-determination.


“There is still a window of opportunity for us to nip in the bud a possible and indeed likely agitation for self determination that will be violent, destructive and all-empowering. We have descended to lack of civility bordering on uncivilisation, indignity, mutual disrespect and crudity in the language of our debate, dialogue, discourse, address, comments and remarks across tribe, section, religion, region, ethnicity and community.



“If not halted, it will degenerate and poison the atmosphere to the tipping point or point of no return.”

Obasanjo, who played an active part in the Nigerian Civil War, said the military then planned that it would crush the Biafran soldiers between three and six months. He, however, said Nigeria almost lost to Biafra but managed to defeat the agitators after 36 months.

He said, “And before we descend any further, let me warn, from experience, those who are beating the drums of war and domination from all quarters. I joined late Bisalla, under General Hassan Katsina, to write the appreciation and the operational instruction for the (Nigerian) Civil War.


“We estimated that Federal Government would suppress the Biafran rebellion within three months. To make allowances for the unforeseen, we allowed six months. But it took us 30 months, five times what we allowed for, and what is more, we nearly lost the war. And as a field commander at the end of the war, I can attest that we fought with all Nigerian tribes, including Igbos against Biafra.”

He said the National Assembly appeared to be aware of the lurking danger and wanted to be proactive but he said the constitution did not give them the power to write a new constitution but to amend the existing one.


“What is required is a new constitution to meet the agitation and aspiration of all Nigerians and to allay all fears. The executive and the legislature need to work together to establish a Constituent Assembly.

He continued, “And if after over 10 years of fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist group is still waxing strong, let nobody out of self-delusion think that a war of self-determination by one or more geopolitical zones of Nigeria with the present disenchantment would be easily suppressed by the rest of what may remain of the country.


“Some will fight to the last drop of the blood of their group rather than suffer the indignity of slavery, oppression, domination and atrocious injustice in the land of their birth and the only one that they can call their country.

“If Boko Haram can get an outside support, any geo-political zone opting for self-determination may equally get an external support. War may not necessarily go as planned, estimated and predicted. “Everything must, therefore, be put in place to avoid a war, the end of which no one can precisely predict.


“There is no assurance that Nigeria can survive a second civil war. But rather, we should seek political solution and avoid a destructive civil war.

“This is the situation today. Let us put our experiences to work and fashion out a political order and arrangement that will strengthen our togetherness while making room for healthy and useful competition within the one entity, Nigeria.

“We need not go the way of Yugoslavia or Sudan and certainly not the way of Rwanda and Somalia. But none of these countries knew the avoidable and divisive end from the beginning. Let us learn from the experience of others and of our founding fathers who resolved their political differences through dialogue and debate without resorting to violence and separation but accommodation, telling themselves hard truth, tolerance and give-and-take spirit. That was the foundation of Nigeria at independence and let it continue to be.


“If all we are interested in is power and not holding the country together harmoniously and wholesomely, we may hold the mirage of power and lose the nation or the country bequeathed to us by our founding fathers.

“Today, we can still collectively debate, dialogue and lead our country to where, by consensus, we will want it to be as a united, strong, harmonious, dynamic, fast developing, productive, fast growing and progressing nation with sufficient leeway for autonomous development and management by component units on the basis of healthy competition, mutual respect, caring and sharing for one another, within one nation and one destiny, with shared values, common goals and venerated diversity.



“There are still people of goodwill who can speak up and speak out and take effective and positive actions individually and collectively that will corporately save the country from rudderlessness and disintegration. We must allow a stitch in time to save nine, so that we are not pushed to the realm of the unknown and which may be for all of us, undesirable.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, who spoke before Obasanjo, said although there was no harm in restructuring, he said he did not believe the time was ripe for restructuring now.


He said, “While I do not oppose restructuring, the problem might not be restructuring and I am not sure that restructuring, at a time when there is so much distrust, will be the solution.”

The new President of OPC, Prince Osibote, expressed worry about the insecurity in the nation.

Osibote said, “We are saddened by the state of insecurity in the land. The challenge is exacerbated by unbridled poverty, illiteracy and ignorance coupled with lack of vision and character by a section of the Nigerian political class.


“We frittered away ample opportunities that came our way to consolidate on our strength, human capacities and natural endowments.

“We unambiguously denounce the spilling of blood in the land, banditry, abduction, and other forms of heinous crimes that have almost made life miserable in some parts of the country.”


Source : https://punchng.com/dont-allow-restructuring-agitation-lead-to-war-obasanjo-tells-buhari/amp/




Lalasticlala

ok

Tell them to go ahead.hundreds a day,thousands a month and millions a year.

The next war will be between the north and south this time we will support whatever Biafra want to do.
Why chief of defense staff being used as ceremonial chief.
Again the problem the south have all the time, they have to sit down in a position where they take orders from their juniors because and hausa man is in charge I don't get it. It turns out that Buratai is seen as the more powerful figure in the military which should have been the other way round.

Abdul05:
Tell them to go ahead.hundreds a day,thousands a month and millions a year.

Meaning? Please choose your words carefully go on please tell us what you mean?

I thought Obasanjo already did Restructuring and he was President. If he did, then why are we repeating it. However, if he didn't, then he must bead for asking someone else to do it. So Restructuring is just for those who are outside government. If you are in government and eating and looting the treasury, you will hate Restructuring, but once you are not in government to loot again, you start shouting Restructuring.

Please, Ogbeni Obasanjo, what about the Restructuring that Afenifere and Tinubu were on your neck for several year? How far did you do it? I guess your forefathers must be mad

Which war pass what are in now?

The death and destruction is more like war time scenarios.

Religion has turned the north
into a parasite that cannot survive
without the precious resources from
the south .

Obasanjo, like the typical Yoruba man
keeps talking & warning of a possible
civil war, when the war has already
started.

The religious fanatics in power, led by
the lifeless one are already using
mercenaries in the name of "bandits" &
"Herdsmen" to fight & depopulate the
Middle Belt & non Muslim Hausa
communities in North west Nigeria.

They are also planning to use Boko
Haram as a reserve army, that is why
Buhari doesn't like them being killed
in the battle fronts or maltreated when
caught .

Fulani herdsmen criminals are also
released immediately they are caught
by law enforcement agents .

The north doesn't believe in too much
talk, they are already in action.

But, the West has realized the plan of
the Muslim north, but 'Jagaba' is slowing
them down due to his selfish presidential
ambition .

SUPPORTED SUPPORTED SUPPORTED!!!

Afamed wee say Obasanjo is ipob
Smh
Cc immhotep GMBuharii greenback Adaibeku sarrki blackking98 helinues metaphysical musachukwudi

And who told Baba that the North aren't ready to war the South?

The South needs to step up, her influencial leaders needs to start talking Southern unity, the future of our children rests on the shoulders of our Southern leaders.

See, xtinguish all shit sentiments & understand we have a meal bigger than one person to consume.

Igbos can't defeat Fulani Herdsmen alone neither can Yorubas defeat Fulani Bandits alone.

Aside these jihad mercenaries, it's no longer news that repentant Boko Boyz are being injected back in the Army, why are they injected in the Army? They are injected in the Army so the official terrorists in the Nigerian Army can be shipped down South. They planned to use the Southern Army Barracks to house the so-called repentant terrorists.

Though, i have gr8 bliv in our Southern leaders to curb all of this Northern madness. South Western leaders dint disappoint by establishing Amotekun, South Eastern & South Southern Leader need to follow suit Asap.

LZAA:
Afamed wee say Obasanjo is ipob
Smh
Cc immhotep GMBuharii greenback Adaibeku sarrki blackking98 helinues metaphysical musachukwudi

Obj can continue to confuse gullible followers like una.

This was what he said in 2017.

So the old man can continue to confuse Una.

The same way he said Atiku is a thief in his book. The same man that said Una must vote for Atiku in 2019. Obj Sabi finger Una head wellllla

[s]

Afamed:

Obj can continue to confuse gullible followers like una.

This was what he said in 2017

[/s]

Afamed:

Obj can continue to confuse gullible followers like una.

This was what he said in 2017.

So the old man can continue to confuse Una.

The same way he said Atiku is a thief in his book. The same man that said Una must vote for Atiku in 2019. Obj Sabi finger Una head wellllla

Have you joined amotekun?

immhotep:

Have you joined amotekun?

I don burst your bubbles right?

[s]

Afamed:

I don burst your bubbles right?

[/s]

The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani,.said he did not believe the time was ripe for restructuring now.

“While I do not oppose restructuring, the problem might not be restructuring and I am not sure that restructuring, at a time when there is so much distrust, will be the solution.”

So when will it be most convenient Mr.ACF sec? Guess now that every sector of our national life is firmly in the hands of hausa-fulani, Restructuring that APC(just like PDP) promised Nigeria in the time past is not longer feasible right?

Well, the time bomb of Nigeria implosion is ticking faster than ever with the widespread injustice and anarchy in the land.The core north should act now & do it wisely.A stitch in time saves nine.

slimfit1:
The next war will be between the north and south this time we will support whatever Biafra want to do.
Why chief of defense staff being used as ceremonial chief.
Again the problem the south have all the time, they have to sit down in a position where they take orders from their juniors because and hausa man is in charge I don't get it. It turns out that Buratai is seen as the more powerful figure in the military which should have been the other way round.

you’re making a great mistake, all parts of Nigeria are getting ready for war, it won’t be between south and the North it would be as messy as war in every household, many community in the North who has been cheated want to go to war with their neighbors who cheated them and so on

Optional09:


you’re making a great mistake, all parts of Nigeria are getting ready for war, it won’t be between south and the North it would be as messy as war in every household, many community in the North who has been cheated want to go to war with their neighbors who cheated them and so on

I agree with you

Cc
Lalasticlala
Ishilove
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy

“What is required is a new constitution to meet the agitation and aspiration of all Nigerians and to allay all fears. The executive and the legislature need to work together to establish a Constituent Assembly.

Today, the agitation has moved up to restructuring. Thanks to Buhari’s administration and its impunity and all. With the fractional political division, poor management of the economy, the non-protecting security and the politics of uncertainty in the land, we should not allow restructuring agitation to degenerate to self-determination.


Buhari is a big big disaster !!!


But OBJ should have first apologized to Nigerians for supporting this greatest disaster of a president ever in the world history in 2015 before saying all these

Restructuring is too late
We will choose that latter
War is not the end but the beginning of a new era
Please God let the fulanis make the mistake of attacking the south west
Because they will know the full wrath of God