Former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke to Zain Verjee of the popular America’s Cable News Network (CNN) yesterday on a number of issues. These include Boko Haram and, how the Jonathan administration is tackling the Islamist sect which has killed over 2.,500 Nigerians since the group’s debut in 2009.
Obasanjo, who now heads a foundation that is promoting security of lives across Africa, also told the CNN International how the foundation is responding to the crises in Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. On Boko Haram, the former president advised Jonathan to adopt the ‘carrot and stick” approach: Excerpts:
What aspect of security have you chosen in your Foundation?
Obasanjo: To improve human security where it is most needed in Africa. We have chosen four areas which are very important; these are food and nutrition, security, education, particularly girl/child education, youth empowerment and employment, security and health issues. These are the key areas we are focusing on.
Let us talk a little bit of security in Nigeria and the group, Boko Haram. Do they undermine the kind of goals your foundation has?
Obasanjo: Boko Haram undermines security and anything that undermines security, undermines development, health, education, agriculture and food and nutrition security.
Do they have links with Al Qaeda or any other group?
Obasanjo: About a year and half ago, I tried reaching out to them and I asked their lawyer who was acting in proxy if they are acting on their own or they have external supports. And he said to me, either Nigerians who have resources abroad are supporting them or other organisations from abroad are supporting them. And if they had 25% support, today, that support is doubled. To deal with such group, you need “carrot” and “stick” approach. “Carrot” is finding out what, how to reach out to them and “Stick” is when you are trying to reach out to them, those that are amenable to be reached out to, you have to use the stick approach.
Do you think President Goodluck Jonathan has been doing a good job with Boko Haram?
Obasanjo: Well, he has been doing a bit of job but it has to be a double track job
What do you mean?
He must have two tracks (CNN) so, he is using the stick approach? Yes, he is using the stick (CNN) so you don’t think he is handling it correctly? I say that he is doing one aspect well; the other aspect must not be ignored.
Will Nigeria ever split into North and South?
Obasanjo: No, no, I think Nigerians now know that it will cost us so much more to break up than it will cost us to come together.
On DRC, can you tell us what Rwanda role is in it?
Obasanjo: I would not believe that Rwanda is back in M23 but I believe that if Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) put its own house in order, then, no matter how much Rwanda wants to put its dirty finger into it, it will not succeed much”. I don’t think the Rwandan government is directly interfering with the M23 rebels, but I can’t be sure that tribes on both sides of the border aren’t involved with them.
Well Baba has said his own. Its left for the Govt to use the advice.
What will it cost nigerian especially southern part if nigeria break up?nothing.Instead we have a lot to gain from it:security,good health,better economy,less corruption……and the list is endless.pls the process of a peaceful breakup must be initiated now.
Do you know that the most corrupt governors in Nigeria today happens to be from the SS?
Where do u get your information from. Talk with facts. What re the northern governors doing with their federal allocation
Baba has spoken, so Mr president is up to you,
Note, the words of elders are words of wisdom.
I do not support break up too but we need to operate on regional structures where all ethnic Nationalities have control of its resources and certain percentage is paid as tax by each region to maintain compact central government in Abuja.
@Dele: You talk to people you can identify. Afanifere, Massob etc all have their offices or agents you can visibly talk to. Can you point to one place and honestly say that this office belongs to boko haram. Your senile baba knows this fact. He is senselessly drawing attention to himself and openly confronting President Jonathan. Obasanjo should tell the world how much carrot and stick he used at Odi and the rest of the group he wantonly destroyed
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Mr adviser saying is easy but to do that which u hav said is d main problem may god help us.
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I think obj is right.they knw too wel were this problms lies.if adressd wel, truly smthin gud wl emerge.no single hand can rule naija i knw them wel.
Good Morning Baba, is now u are waking-up to proffer solution to the security situation in Nigeria, when many lives hv bn lost and many properties destroyed. Well thanks for your advise but I believe that the present administration are trying their best to curb the security situation. There is no administration that is perfect.
ekaaro baba. bawoni? se o wa pa. mo like speechie oo
Baba is saying Nigeria can not break up, bank and his followers are only trying to protect their ill goten wealth , they know the truth that the best thing to happen to nigeria is to break it up, well he has said his selfish opinion, nothing is impossible with God, time will tell, people like obasanjo will cover their face in shame when the did is done, i rest my case.
Well, Jonathan ! OBJ said you have done one aspect and you ignored the other aspect. Jonathan ! please liaise with OBJ to find out the aspect you ignored, so that this Boko haram problem would be solved once and for all.
Baba is saying Nigeria can not break up, baba and his followers are only trying to protect their ill goten wealth , they know the truth that the best thing to happen to nigeria is to break it up, well he has said his selfish opinion, nothing is impossible with God, time will tell, people like obasanjo will cover their face in shame when the did is done, i rest my case.
baba is a man a respect his views, actions etc. is now that nigerians are appreciating his leadership qualities. if it were in his days, he would have dealt with boko haram first, then seek reconciliation. up you baba. i trust your style. keep on advising goodluck otherwise, aboki people will mess him up. but lookkk let me tell you. the root cause of boko is the introduction of sharia law in the north which is made for the common people while the rich are tried in the conventional court. even the one who introduced it. WHY CAN’T CORRUPT POLITICIANS IN THE NORTH BE TRIED IN SHARIA COURT? WHY? WHY?
Am not comfortable with OBJ’s advice. GEJ is doing well and being careful with the security issue. Don’t forget 80% our security is the north (boko haram)…………
May God deliver Nigeria from lips service advocates,.People whose brain work only when they are no longer relevant to their nation.
shegea and co crimials in disguise, split dis nation if not him and there ilks will continue to eat us till nothing will remain 4 us to start all ovre again.
OBJ. He spoke nothing. GEJ and his administration is do very well. All these problems came when OBJ was with the northerners ruling these country called Nigeria. Did OBJ wants soldiers to be withdrawn from North East?
Split this country and bury tat name called ‘Nigeria’so that other foreign countries wil see us as decent african country and also 2 help minimise corruption…but it al starts with chanching tat name.
i can not believe what i’m hearing, Nigeria the elephant of Africa; being molested by some low life uneducated idiots called boko haram, shame and shame on all the so called leaders whom are in charge in the first place through dubous means.these pesters are fewer than than a million, what happen to our intelligents and the millitary , every one now use the cell phone, nigeria can use this media network to fish out this idiots, who hate western education but stupid enough to use it’s cadgets to disturb our peace, why would any reasonable one think about us breaking up. we are one nation under God we need to provide more and more education to all in order to achieve our God giving potentials. when we are educated, no idiot can fool us by coming to our neighborhood to deceive us with bag of rice in order to win our votes and in turn come back next time with Range rover to tell us to our faces that we are zombies. please breaking up is not the answer to our problem nor religion affiliations, we just need to be enlightened some more . bet you Nigeria will be great some day, maybe not during you or my time.
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Baba Obasanjo, i cherish ur efforts towards peace in Africa. U re really trying. The northern leaders does nt want peace. All they were after is power supremacy. Whatever it cost if d need arises for Nigeria to break, let it be. During ur tenure as president, Atiku Abubakar ur vice antagonised u to d point of death. D north occupied d seat of power more dan any other region. So why their complaint & war aggression all d time. Enough of dis nonsense. We re all Nigeria for God sake.
Who d hell made once a blood thirsty demon like obj head of security in africa. Dsame man dat laid siege against d odi ppl and d likes who were fighting 4 their rights during his corruption-stricken admin, and sent them to their early graves. This is a misplaced character appointmt of a man who ran politics during his time in a ferocious ‘do or die’ manner.
You talk well! The kind of carrot and stick you used at odii. Confused leadership remains one of our banes.
Who said nigeria breakup is not a good path is a liar,nigerian politicians are talking of unity bcos of their selfish gains, the best thing that can happened to nigeria,is breakup,please let there be a referendum and see if nigeria will not break up
If a part of someones house is on fire, and he is not doing anything to quench the fire, believing that the fire will not spread to the whole building. That person must be the biggest of all fools. It surprises me when people say that nigeria can not break up. A country that it’s citizens can not trust each other. All this problems we are facing today, is as a result of gowon’s refusal to implement the aburri agreement, and abolishment of our previous regional system of government. I have always said it, that gowon created states in this country, not because he had good intentions for this country. But because he wanted to create division between the people of the south-south and south east. If Nigeria leaders do not convene a sovereign national conference to decide the future of this country. Nigeria will surly disintegrate. Its a promise.
What is this old man trying to say here? He is among those that institutionalised corruption, manipulated elections, just to mention but a few… All the setbacks we are experiencing today as a nation can be traced to him and his failed PDP members.If Nigeria wasn’t a banana republic people like you would have been cooling off in prison.
Jonathan is doing exrimly well truth is good to be said it is not easy let us encourange and surport him he really need your surport. God Bless Nigeria.
Is not about the other aspect is about God and God only. Nigerians should pray for Nigeria in Jesus name
Charity begins at home. OBJ should concentrate most of the resources of his foundation on his country NIGERIA first to make lives more secured. Jonathan is not a military man and can not take to OBJ:s advice to adopt his ODI style. As regards Nigeria Unity. let us being emotional about this issue and educate our people that the break up would only be at Government level. You and I could still live and carry our legitimate business in any of the break up units but subject to compliance of its law. 2015 would decide if the CENTRE can still hold and that is not for OBJ to enforce. Shikena !!
This man will never close his mouth. Obasanjo must you keep your mouth open? The other day you castigated Jonathan for being unnecessary soft on Boko haram, today he is now using only ” stick” without combining it with “carrot”. Obviously, your problem with Jonathan is never about Boko haram as you made the world to believe. You are surely living to your Race identity. Traitor is the word.
People like OBJ have lost relevance in Nigeria history. He was to become another Mandela but goffed. How did he tackle Odi unrest? Who told him that Jonathan can not excel at the end of the day. Darkness cometh in the Night but light cometh in the morning!! Join hand and pray for Jonathan for he is not the cause of Nigeria nightmares.” He is a leader of Circumstance ”
Boko haram is as a result of absue of power, corruption, illietracy and cheating against the talakawas of the North by Nigerian leaders dead and alive. Could you imagine an Alhaji who is wealthy can never teach his people how to creat wealth. They only assemble to his house for evening prayer and after that he dishes meal to all and sundry. The Norther elites have failed to empower their people, so why blame Boko haram. Beleieve me, the day one knew he has been exploited, raped, over used, he can never fear death, for life will become meaningless.
People like OBJ and most leaders are supposed to rot in Jail and keys to that jail thrown to Atlantic ocean. Unless Government can respond to its duties and responsibilities, i see powerful hurricane more deadlier than Boko haram ev
nveloping Nigeria.
@julius abiodun,when do u think nigeria will b gr8 if not in our time.may be we need a millenium.did isreali state waste any time like us.disintegration pls.