Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh
\nAbubakar Gumi, met on Sunday to discuss and propose possible solutions
\nto the security challenges in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which held at the residence of the former president in
\nAbeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was part of efforts to find solutions
\nto the menace of banditry, kidnapping, and payment of ransom, among
\nother security threats in the land.<\/p>\n
After the exchange of pleasantries, Gumi briefed Obasanjo on measures
\nand steps he had taken to stem the tide of insecurity in many parts of
\nthe North.<\/p>\n
Discussions centered on the causes, effects and implications of the
\nvarious security threats, as well as the reactions by communities, local
\nauthorities, state governments, and the Federal Government, as well as
\nauthorities in neighbouring countries and nations within West Africa.<\/p>\n
In their resolution, Obasanjo and Gumi agreed that banditry, kidnapping,
\nand other crimes that have led to general insecurity were a nationwide
\nphenomenon.<\/p>\n
They acknowledged that people from various parts of the country and
\noutside Nigeria were involved, although some people were more
\npredominantly involved than others.<\/p>\n
The elder statesman and the Islamic scholar appealed to authorities and
\nthe people not to encourage or support criminality, noting that the
\nsecurity situation in the country has gone beyond tolerance.<\/p>\n
They identified the crisis as a micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani
\nand many host communities mainly in the North West, saying its remote
\ncauses were educational and economic disparities, as well as the
\nnegative use of religion and ethnicity by deceitful politicians.<\/p>\n
On how to tackle the menace, Obasanjo and Gumi stressed the need for the
\npeople, irrespective of their affiliation, to desist from blame game, as
\nwell as attributing ethnicity, religion, and region to crimes committed
\nby criminals.<\/p>\n
They also called on the people to respect one another, show tolerance
\nand accommodation where necessary, as well as condemn criminal acts no
\nmatter where it was committed and by whom it was committed.<\/p>\n
According to them, encouraging more carrot solution as may be found
\nnecessary, sharing information at all levels, and not accepting
\ncriminality as a way of life for any individual or group in the country,
\nare part of the solutions to insecurity in the land.<\/p>\n
A joint statement signed by the two leaders reads:<\/p>\n
As part of his continued efforts to find solutions for the general
\ninsecurity in the country and particularly for the menace of banditry,
\nkidnapping and ransom payment, Sheikh Gumi with a delegation of eight,
\nas follows Prof. Usman Yusuf, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Dr Umar Ardo, Dr
\nIbrahim Abdullahi, Honourable Suleiman Gumi, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, and
\nMallam Buba Mohammed, visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun
\nState on April 4, 2021.<\/p>\n
Chief Obasanjo received Sheikh Gumi and his delegation in the presence
\nof Oba Babajide Bakare, Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta; Bishop Tunde
\nAkin-Akinsanya, Chairman of Ogun State Christian Association of Nigeria;
\nSheikh Sa\u2019addallah Alade Bamigbola, Chief Imam of Egbaland; Chief Kenny
\nMartins, Chief Ola Babajide Jaiyeoba; Rev. Tony Ojeshina, Chief Imams of
\nOke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu and Mr Vitalis Ortese.<\/p>\n
After the exchange of pleasantries, Sheikh Gumi briefed Chief Obasanjo
\nwith other hosts on the measures and steps he had taken and spearheaded
\nto stem the tide of insecurity and menace of banditry, kidnapping and
\nransom payment in many parts of the North.<\/p>\n
Questions and discussions ensued to clarify some statements credited to
\nSheikh Gumi on his well-intended mission in the past.\u00a0 After
\nclarification of points by Sheikh Gumi, discussions centred on causes \u2013
\nremote and immediate \u2013, effects and implications, actions and reactions
\nby communities, local authorities, state governments, national
\ngovernment and governments of our neighbouring countries and countries
\nwithin West Africa.<\/p>\n
After deep, frank, and intimate discussions, the following points were
\narrived at and decided upon for appropriate actions as recommended:<\/p>\n
Chief Obasanjo commended Sheikh Gumi for his initiative and encouraged
\nhim not to relent in his efforts. Sheikh Gumi thanked Chief Obasanjo for
\nhis past services, emphasising the special unifying efforts and
\nattributes to the nation and for the warm welcome accorded to his
\ndelegation.<\/p>\n
The menace of banditry, kidnapping, other crimes, and atrocities leading
\nto general insecurity is a nationwide phenomenon. We acknowledge that
\npeople from different parts of the country and outside the country are
\ninvolved although some people are more predominantly involved than
\nothers.<\/p>\n
We must not advertently or inadvertently, in words, action or inaction
\nencourage or support criminality. We acknowledge that the security
\nsituation has gone beyond tolerance; hence Sheik Gumi\u2019s coming to
\nAbeokuta to confer with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.<\/p>\n
We identified the crisis as micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani and
\nmany host communities mainly in the North West. We identified the remote
\ncauses as educational and economic disparities, and the negative use of
\nreligion and ethnicity by unscrupulous politicians.<\/p>\n
Solutions must be seen and provided on short-, medium-, and long-term
\nbases and must be composed of stick and carrot for the offender and the
\nvulnerable.<\/p>\n
All well-meaning Nigerians have to be involved in finding solutions by \u2013
\ndesisting from blame game; desisting from ethnicising these crimes;
\ndesisting from religionising these crimes; desisting from regionalising
\nthese crimes; respecting one another individually, community-wise,
\nlocally, ethnically, religiously and socially; showing tolerance and
\naccommodation where necessary; condemning criminal acts no matter where
\nit is committed and by whom it is committed in Nigeria; encouraging more
\nof carrot solution as may be found necessary; sharing information at all
\nlevels; not accepting criminality as a way of life for any individual or
\ngroup in our nation.<\/p>\n
Since the end of the civil war, the military is the strongest and most
\npotent instrument and symbol of national unity that we have, and we must
\nkeep it so.<\/p>\n
State governments must have adequate means of providing security for
\ntheir people and as chief executives and chief security officers of
\ntheir states, they must have the means at their disposal to ensure
\nsecurity for all within their states.<\/p>\n
Federal Government must be proactive, secure necessary and updated
\nintelligence to deal with organised crimes and have a common policy for
\nthe nation. It is not solving the problem when one state goes for
\nnegotiation and molly-cuddling of criminals and another one goes for
\nshooting them.\u00a0 Nor should one state go for ransom payment and another
\none going against.<\/p>\n
Education is one main key to solve the problem in the long run, but it
\nmust start now.\u00a0 The 14 million children that should be in school and
\nare out of school must be put in school with local authorities, state
\ngovernments, and federal government working together.<\/p>\n
Wean those who are ready to be weaned out of the bushes and crime,
\nsettle and rehabilitate them, give them skills, empower them and let
\nthem have employment.<\/p>\n
The hardened criminals must be hard hit with the stick.\u00a0 Unlawful
\ncarrying of arms should be very seriously punished. Federal Government
\nshould take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and
\nstrong against criminals. There should be protection and reward covertly
\nfor whistleblowers against criminals living in the community.<\/p>\n
Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of
\nbanditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.<\/p>\n
Let the slogan be: Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.<\/p>\n
We agree to continue to work together for solutions for the security of
\nNigeria and to seek others to join us as we widely circulate our joint
\nstatement. To this end, Sheik Gumi has extended an invitation to Chief
\nObasanjo to visit Kaduna with a view to continuing the discourse started
\ntoday and Chief Obasanjo has graciously accepted.<\/p>\n
We conclude that to keep Nigeria safe and secure for all Nigerians and
\nothers living in Nigeria is a task that all well-meaning Nigerians must
\nengage in, separately and collectively.<\/p>\n
Both of us resolve that we would not relent in our efforts. The
\ndelegations on both sides acceded to this statement. We agree to meet
\nagain in due course to re-examine the progress and situation of security
\nin Nigeria.<\/p>\n
_____________________\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 __________________________<\/p>\n
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":79459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n