Obasanjo calls for national unity to defeat Boko Haram, banditry

By Kunle Sanni –

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigeria to adopt a whole-of-society approach in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency and other security threats confronting the country.

According to a report by TheCable, Obasanjo made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book by retired Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor.

The former president, who wrote the foreword to the book, described Boko Haram as one of the most enduring threats to Nigeria’s stability, having persisted for more than 15 years under four successive administrations.

Drawing parallels with past crises such as pre-independence militancy, the Tiv riots, and the Nigerian Civil War, Obasanjo noted that the insurgency has grown into one of the nation’s most prolonged conflicts.

He recalled visiting Boko Haram members in the aftermath of the 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja.

“I went to find out who these people were and what they wanted. I discovered that they were not really pursuing political or religious goals. In short, they were seeking a better life,” Obasanjo said.

“Have we understood that? Have we taken the right steps? Should we accept this menace as part of our lives? If not, what should we do? How proactive have we been in dealing with this monster within our country?”

The former president stressed that Nigeria must examine its history to better understand current challenges and design lasting solutions.