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.”
Punch
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