I am Not Afraid Of Revolution; But, I Hate Peace Of The Graveyard – Obasanjo

By Gideon Njoku

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he is not afraid of a revolution in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, unarguably, the most outspoken and fearless President –  serving, retired or dead – also says that even though he is a lover of peace, he does not want the “peace of the graveyard.”

The former President spoke at a lecture he delivered on Friday, June, 26, at the 2020 Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture in Abeokuta

Delivering the lecture, he said the state of security in the country is so bad that not even the Fulanis are happy, even though President Muhammadu Buhari is a Fulanin.

Obasanjo: ” It is evident that no ethnic group, nor geopolitical zone, and not even the Fulanis in Nigeria are collectively satisfied with the present situation, in spite of President Buhari being a Fulani man”

He, also criticised the security architecture of the country, saying it gives no hope to anybody. He said:

“Federal security architecture; as organised and operated by the present Government cannot give any individual, or group, hope, let alone assurance of security  within Nigeria”

Emphasizing that our destiny is in our hands, he submitted : “In reform and restructuring, security architecture, structure and arrangement must devolve more security responsibility on the community, local and state authorities”.

Obasanjo expressed concerns over the state of affairs in Nigeria, and remembered Mali.

He said: “From about the beginning of this month of June, there have been agitations and protests of a revolutionary nature in Mali. Not that I am afraid of revolution, no, not at all, but I love and cherish peace, and , of course, not peace of the graveyard.” Which is why he is concerned about a similar situation happening in Nigeria.

He noted:

“If  I am concerned about security issue in Mali because of the possibility of flow-over to other parts of West Africa, I should be more concerned about security in any part of Nigeria.

Noting that nowhere is safe in Nigeria, the former President agonised:

“There was a time when armed robbers prowled the West and the Mid-West in Nigeria, and the arrested ones were tied to the stake, and publicly executed. At the time, the North was comparatively unaffected.

“There was also a time when kidnappers, militants and human traffickers ravaged the East and the South-South. Again, the North was relatively unaffected.

“There was a time when terrorists, bandits, girls- kidnappers, herders/farmers conflict, and cattle rustlers invaded the North-East and North-Central, and core North was relatively safe.”

But, no longer, as according to a worried Obasanjo, who is shocked by the level Nigeria has descended,  every part of the country is now engulfed by all the insecurities which were limited to some parts of the country. “Nowhere is safe.”