Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh
Abubakar Gumi, met on Sunday to discuss and propose possible solutions
to the security challenges in Nigeria.
The meeting, which held at the residence of the former president in
Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was part of efforts to find solutions
to the menace of banditry, kidnapping, and payment of ransom, among
other security threats in the land.
After the exchange of pleasantries, Gumi briefed Obasanjo on measures
and steps he had taken to stem the tide of insecurity in many parts of
the North.
Discussions centered on the causes, effects and implications of the
various security threats, as well as the reactions by communities, local
authorities, state governments, and the Federal Government, as well as
authorities in neighbouring countries and nations within West Africa.
In their resolution, Obasanjo and Gumi agreed that banditry, kidnapping,
and other crimes that have led to general insecurity were a nationwide
phenomenon.
They acknowledged that people from various parts of the country and
outside Nigeria were involved, although some people were more
predominantly involved than others.
The elder statesman and the Islamic scholar appealed to authorities and
the people not to encourage or support criminality, noting that the
security situation in the country has gone beyond tolerance.
They identified the crisis as a micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani
and many host communities mainly in the North West, saying its remote
causes were educational and economic disparities, as well as the
negative use of religion and ethnicity by deceitful politicians.
On how to tackle the menace, Obasanjo and Gumi stressed the need for the
people, irrespective of their affiliation, to desist from blame game, as
well as attributing ethnicity, religion, and region to crimes committed
by criminals.
They also called on the people to respect one another, show tolerance
and accommodation where necessary, as well as condemn criminal acts no
matter where it was committed and by whom it was committed.
According to them, encouraging more carrot solution as may be found
necessary, sharing information at all levels, and not accepting
criminality as a way of life for any individual or group in the country,
are part of the solutions to insecurity in the land.
A joint statement signed by the two leaders reads:
As part of his continued efforts to find solutions for the general
insecurity in the country and particularly for the menace of banditry,
kidnapping and ransom payment, Sheikh Gumi with a delegation of eight,
as follows Prof. Usman Yusuf, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Dr Umar Ardo, Dr
Ibrahim Abdullahi, Honourable Suleiman Gumi, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, and
Mallam Buba Mohammed, visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun
State on April 4, 2021.
Chief Obasanjo received Sheikh Gumi and his delegation in the presence
of Oba Babajide Bakare, Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta; Bishop Tunde
Akin-Akinsanya, Chairman of Ogun State Christian Association of Nigeria;
Sheikh Sa’addallah Alade Bamigbola, Chief Imam of Egbaland; Chief Kenny
Martins, Chief Ola Babajide Jaiyeoba; Rev. Tony Ojeshina, Chief Imams of
Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu and Mr Vitalis Ortese.
After the exchange of pleasantries, Sheikh Gumi briefed Chief Obasanjo
with other hosts on the measures and steps he had taken and spearheaded
to stem the tide of insecurity and menace of banditry, kidnapping and
ransom payment in many parts of the North.
Questions and discussions ensued to clarify some statements credited to
Sheikh Gumi on his well-intended mission in the past. After
clarification of points by Sheikh Gumi, discussions centred on causes –
remote and immediate –, effects and implications, actions and reactions
by communities, local authorities, state governments, national
government and governments of our neighbouring countries and countries
within West Africa.
After deep, frank, and intimate discussions, the following points were
arrived at and decided upon for appropriate actions as recommended:
Chief Obasanjo commended Sheikh Gumi for his initiative and encouraged
him not to relent in his efforts. Sheikh Gumi thanked Chief Obasanjo for
his past services, emphasising the special unifying efforts and
attributes to the nation and for the warm welcome accorded to his
delegation.
The menace of banditry, kidnapping, other crimes, and atrocities leading
to general insecurity is a nationwide phenomenon. We acknowledge that
people from different parts of the country and outside the country are
involved although some people are more predominantly involved than
others.
We must not advertently or inadvertently, in words, action or inaction
encourage or support criminality. We acknowledge that the security
situation has gone beyond tolerance; hence Sheik Gumi’s coming to
Abeokuta to confer with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
We identified the crisis as micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani and
many host communities mainly in the North West. We identified the remote
causes as educational and economic disparities, and the negative use of
religion and ethnicity by unscrupulous politicians.
Solutions must be seen and provided on short-, medium-, and long-term
bases and must be composed of stick and carrot for the offender and the
vulnerable.
All well-meaning Nigerians have to be involved in finding solutions by –
desisting from blame game; desisting from ethnicising these crimes;
desisting from religionising these crimes; desisting from regionalising
these crimes; respecting one another individually, community-wise,
locally, ethnically, religiously and socially; showing tolerance and
accommodation where necessary; condemning criminal acts no matter where
it is committed and by whom it is committed in Nigeria; encouraging more
of carrot solution as may be found necessary; sharing information at all
levels; not accepting criminality as a way of life for any individual or
group in our nation.
Since the end of the civil war, the military is the strongest and most
potent instrument and symbol of national unity that we have, and we must
keep it so.
State governments must have adequate means of providing security for
their people and as chief executives and chief security officers of
their states, they must have the means at their disposal to ensure
security for all within their states.
Federal Government must be proactive, secure necessary and updated
intelligence to deal with organised crimes and have a common policy for
the nation. It is not solving the problem when one state goes for
negotiation and molly-cuddling of criminals and another one goes for
shooting them. Nor should one state go for ransom payment and another
one going against.
Education is one main key to solve the problem in the long run, but it
must start now. The 14 million children that should be in school and
are out of school must be put in school with local authorities, state
governments, and federal government working together.
Wean those who are ready to be weaned out of the bushes and crime,
settle and rehabilitate them, give them skills, empower them and let
them have employment.
The hardened criminals must be hard hit with the stick. Unlawful
carrying of arms should be very seriously punished. Federal Government
should take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional
solution.
Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and
strong against criminals. There should be protection and reward covertly
for whistleblowers against criminals living in the community.
Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of
banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.
Let the slogan be: Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.
We agree to continue to work together for solutions for the security of
Nigeria and to seek others to join us as we widely circulate our joint
statement. To this end, Sheik Gumi has extended an invitation to Chief
Obasanjo to visit Kaduna with a view to continuing the discourse started
today and Chief Obasanjo has graciously accepted.
We conclude that to keep Nigeria safe and secure for all Nigerians and
others living in Nigeria is a task that all well-meaning Nigerians must
engage in, separately and collectively.
Both of us resolve that we would not relent in our efforts. The
delegations on both sides acceded to this statement. We agree to meet
again in due course to re-examine the progress and situation of security
in Nigeria.
_____________________ __________________________
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi