The secrecy with which President Umaru Yar'adua's illness and his return from medical trip are being handled could happen only in Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo told American news network CNN on Wednesday.
Yar'adua returned from a three-month medical sojourn in Saudi Arabia three weeks ago, but he has not made a public appearance and not been seen yet by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo said the whole episode with Yar'adua's illness is unusual.
"I think the way it was handled by his handlers and the way it's been couched in secrecy and shrouded in mystery is strange. Somebody said it can only happen in 'wonderland' Nigeria," he said.
He said it will be very dangerous if Jonathan fails to implement reforms quickly because the country is full of expectations for change.
The former president also spoke about the recent violence that claimed at least 200 lives in Plateau State, saying it was not driven by religious tensions between Christians and Muslims-but by ethnic, social and economic problems.
"If you have one group or a community that has land that's been encroached upon by another community or even by itinerant cattle farmers, then the people who lay claim to the land will fight back," Obasanjo said.
"If there are job opportunities in an area, and persons believe they are indigenous to that area, and (are) not getting enough out of the jobs that are available, they will fight those who are getting the jobs," he added.
Obasanjo said he's convinced the conflict in the country does not have religious roots, because religious leaders have come together and deliberated on the problems in Jos.
Agency report
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Wow! I appreciate President Olusegun Obasanjo candor on President Umaru Yar'adua's illness and his return from medical trip. But it is disingenuous for the former President to sarcastically opine that only in Nigeria would that happen.
This is why it is important to keep your nose clean so your past does not come to haunt you. If the former president had encouraged a free and fair election without imposing President Yar'Aadua on Nigeria we would not be holding this conversation. The former President cannot distance himself from what is happening in Nigeria because that was what he left behind.
I was equally dumbfounded on former president's take about the Jos riot. Is the president implying that it is okay to administer jungle justice when someone encourages on you land? If that is true why the president did forcefully proscribed the Bakasi Boys who used jungle justice to obtain some good result. Crime rate was low in Nigeria there was no kidnapping and heightened armed robbery as we see it today.
The answer to Obasanjo's interview on CNN :
What is happening in Nigeria and all of Africa today can be avoided, if African leaders can take the high road and lead by example. Allow democratic principles to flourish.Educate the public both intellectually, morally and spiritually. Money is not everything ,but it helps to take care of few needs . Please , read a new book titled African development and influence of Western media, By L.Emeka Ogazi through createspace.com /3434887. God Bless you all, Long live Africa !!!!
I have continued to wonder why I can never reconcile myself with Baba's style but almost always agree with his analysis.
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