Two former presidents of Nigeria have issued a joint statement
on the state of the nation. Former military president, Gen Ibrahim
Babangida and former president Olusegun Obasanjo (who
also served as military president 1976-79) issued the rare joint statement in
Minna, Niger State, the home town of Babangida, on Sunday 29 July. They said
that the statement was in response to the “unfolding events that are
threatening to unravel the nearly century-old labour of our founding fathers”.
They urged that there was a need for a strong, united and
peaceful nation, noting that there were internecine crises raging across the
land unabated, with damaging consequences on the social, political and economic
life of the nation, with untold hardships being visited on all citizens in one
form or the other on a daily basis. They also pledged to do whatever was
necessary to promote the quest for peace and harmony and to join hands with all
patriots to sustain and further enhance the unity and progress of Nigeria.
Their statement has been met with mixed reviews. While some
have commended both men for speaking out in unison against the security
challenges that have held the country in a firm grip over the past year, others
such as the Ohaneze Ndigbo socio-political group of the South-Eastern region,
were less charitable as they referred to both men as hypocritical.
For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.
© 2012 Menas Associates
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