Erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo and his archenemy General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), recently, dropped their rivalry caps and came together to express grief over the general insecurity in Nigeria, maintaining in a joint statement duly signed by them that the slaughter of innocent Nigerians was simply unbearable , agonising and heartbreaking.For them, 'Unfolding events in our dear motherland, Nigeria, over the last few years are threatening to unravel the nearly a century old labour of our founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful nation that can accommodate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities. Internecine unabating crises are raging across the land with damaging consequences on the social, political and economic life of the nation. And in the process untold hardships are being visited on all citizens in one form or another on a daily basis. The loss of innocent lives being experienced by the day across the nation is simply unbearable. Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day to day lives without great anxiety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue!'Continuing, they said: 'A deeply worrying trend that is emerging from this terrible situation is that a pervasive cynicism is beginning to set in, so much so that millions of true Nigerian patriots are starting to question the platform upon which the unity of this country rests. This is simply untenable. The people of this country must not allow whatever sense of frustration, fear and despair we are experiencing now to supersede our hopes for a collective destiny which lies in our continued existence as a Nation. For us, and we believe for millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of this nation is not only priceless but non-negotiable.'While we are very much aware of the efforts various governments in the country are making to confront the escalating security challenges across the country, we believe that it is time that these efforts were scaled up to be more involving and inclusive.'Stressing that our diversity should be a cause for celebration and not for lamentation, the duo added: '...Nigerians wherever they are and whatever religion they profess are accorded a great opportunity to turn the tide against insecurity, violence and hatred. Religious leaders, in particular, have an even greater challenge to use the immense virtues of the period of fast to inculcate in the millions of citizens the spirit of mutual respect, humility and forgiveness. Ample opportunities are therefore at hand to bring all armed belligerents to table for meaningful dialogue with the authorities for our future and that of our children and grandchildren.'In their conclusion, while declaring their readiness to do whatever is possible to promote the quest for peace, unity and harmony in the country, Obasanjo and IBB, noted that no significant advancement can take place in an ambience of hostility and venom.Sadly, as if to say to hell with the former presidents, barely 24 hours after their jointly signed message of peace, tolerance and dialogue, gunmen attacked Vice-President Namadi Sambo's abode in Kaduna. And on the same day multiple bombs rocked Sokoto, the capital of the Caliphate, for the very first time, with attacks on the office of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police and two police stations. A total of five people were reported to have died in the attacks, while some sustained varying degrees of injuries. While the attacks were going on in Kaduna and Sokoto, another group of gunmen ambushed the Joint Task Force (JTF) team in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, killing one of its officers.While some believe that the joint statement coming from the duo of Obasanjo and Babangida was a welcome good development, many have argued that they do not have a say on the matter, as they are seen as the major cause of the entire problem bedevilling the country today.For instance, even though he agreed that the concerns raised by the former Nigerian leaders were genuine, Yinka Odumakin, an active member of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), argued that they have a gigantic portion of guilt in all of the issues that brought the problems Nigeria is currently facing as a nation.In Odumakin's words, 'Babangida had his time as military head of state during which corruption was the order of the day. Perhaps, if the resources of the nation had been judiciously utilised by IBB to build infrastructure, we may not be where we are today. Also, Obasanjo for eight years had the opportunity and capacity to develop Nigeria, but he was busy acquiring what we did not need.' Inasmuch as IBB is believed to have in his days as Military President institutionalised corruption, whose tentacles were spread by Obasanjo, I think whatever suggestion and advice they have to offer in the current spate of insecurity in the land must not be wished away at all by Nigerians. At this point in time, whatever we need to do collectively as a people to stop this continued bloodbath and massacre of our fellow countrymen and women has to be done. We just cannot continue like this, seeing innocent Nigerians being sent to their early graves almost on a daily basis.In all of these crises, where Nigerians now move around with apprehension, it is equally important that we seek the face of God Almighty. Like Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber rightly pointed out in his Ramadan message to Nigerians, 'As we commence this year's Ramadan, I am using this medium to call on my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, and indeed, the entire people of Nigeria to remain steadfast and unwavering in prayers for our beloved country. We have had too many disasters in recent times with numerous innocent Nigerians losing their lives for no fault of theirs. As we make efforts on our own to checkmate the menace, we, most importantly, need to seek the face of God. We need divine intervention in all of these crises.'It is my hope and belief that the step taken by the duo of Obasanjo and IBB coupled with the government's efforts and that of all other Nigerians will yield fruitful results, if it is only for the sake of our beloved brothers and sisters who have lost their lives so far. I am optimistic that God will touch the hearts of those behind this heinous and dastardly act of senseless killings that have become the order of the day in our dear country Nigeria.Jegede, a journalist, writes in from Abuja
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