Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a strong challenge to current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding immediate action against bandits terrorizing the nation and suggesting that Nigeria should seek international assistance if the government fails to protect its citizens.
Call for International Intervention
The elder statesman delivered his powerful message during the Plateau Unity Christmas and Praise Festival on Friday, November 28, where he expressed deep concern about the government's inability to stop the senseless killings occurring across various regions and religious communities in Nigeria.
"We are part of the world community. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us," Obasanjo declared emphatically.
He emphasized that protecting citizens represents the fundamental responsibility of any government, stating that "If we are being killed, it is the responsibility of the government to do something about it." The former leader urged Nigerians to demand action from their leaders at all levels and across all sectors of society.
Modern Technology Makes Hiding Impossible
Obasanjo highlighted the significant technological advancements that should make tracking and apprehending criminals straightforward in today's world. "In these days of technology, there should be nobody hiding anywhere after he has committed a crime that cannot be seen with the present-day satellite," he noted.
Reflecting on his own presidential tenure, Obasanjo revealed that while his administration had the capability to identify and locate criminals, they lacked the sophisticated equipment available today. "Before I left government, I knew we had the capacity to pick up anybody in Nigeria. The capacity we didn't have then was that, after we had identified and located such a criminal, we didn't have the capacity to pick him up without moving on land or by air," he explained.
The former president pointed to drone technology as a game-changing tool that current authorities should utilize more effectively. "Now we have the capacity with drones. You can take them out. Why are we not doing that?" he questioned.
Condemnation of Negotiations with Criminals
Obasanjo strongly criticized the government's approach of negotiating with and paying criminals, while simultaneously denying such transactions. His comments come amid growing public frustration over security forces engaging in ransom payments to kidnappers and bandits.
"Why are we negotiating? And after government has paid these criminals, government denies!" he challenged, calling for a more decisive approach to dealing with security threats.
The former leader made an impassioned plea for the protection of all Nigerian lives, regardless of religious affiliation. "We are tired of being killed, and we want the killing of Nigerians, whether they are Christians or Muslims or pagans, they are Nigerians, and the life of every Nigerian matters. It should stop," he stressed.
Obasanjo's remarks highlight the escalating security crisis facing Africa's most populous nation and represent a significant political intervention from one of Nigeria's most experienced statesmen.
