Kaduna-based human rights activist, Mr. Shehu Sani, on Sunday
revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo fell out with
President Goodluck Jonathan because the President refused to heed
Obasanjo’s advice and engage Boko Haram in dialogue instead of use
of force.
The President of the Civil Rights Congress, who spoke with reporters
in Kaduna on Sunday, said when the government was seeking solutions
to the end of bombings and killings allegedly perpetrated by the
violent Islamic group in the North, Obasanjo decided to visit the families of the sect’s leaders in Maiduguri to negotiate with them on the crisis and how it could be resolved.
He said, “Their (Obasanjo and Jonathan) problem started with the
issue of Boko Haram. I facilitated the dialogue between the former
President and Boko Haram members’ families.
“We went to Maiduguri to meet with their families and they presented a list of suggestions, which they thought could end the crisis.
“We sat down with them in the mosque of the founder, Mohammed Yusuf.
“They brought out pictures of their members and gave them to Obasanjo; they brought several documents of military and police brutality against them and the members of their families, where they were molested and killed.
“They gave them to Obasanjo. The former President then gave them his
word and his honour that he would do everything to ensure that justice
was done.”
Sani added, “The same day we left Maiduguri in a helicopter and
Obasanjo went back to Abuja and I knew very well that he was able to
deliver such (Boko Haram’s families’) demands.
“I think the late Andrew Azazi played a key role in frustrating
Obasanjo’s effort because he, at that time, believed that the
security agencies would silence the group. And he misinformed the
President to go to South Korea during a nuclear summit and tell the
whole world that by June last year the problem of Boko Haram would come
to an end.
Sani lamented that despite Jonathan’s promise and deadline, the crisis had persisted.
He said, “They miscalculated because up till today the insurgency
persists. As I am talking to you, violence is going on in Kano, Gombe
and Maiduguri.
“From that point I have not seen any cordial relationship between Jonathan and Obasanjo.
“Thereafter the issue of Obasanjo’s resignation from the Peoples
Democratic Party Board of Trustee came up. I believe that Obasanjo
discovered that he was no longer relevant and weighty in the party and
government.
“His godson, Jonathan, had found his feet and created his own
caucus. The PDP is such a party that always dances to the tune of an
incumbent President.” And this is one of the biggest problem of the
party today.”
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