Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the federal government to seek international assistance if it cannot protect its citizens, criticizing the policy of the current administration in negotiating with bandits and terrorists.
Speaking at the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol in Jos on Friday, the former leader argued that the government’s approach of apologising and negotiating with criminals is failing, due to the mass abductions across Northern Nigeria in recent weeks.
Over the past fortnight, hundreds of civilians have been abducted, including 315 students in Niger State and 26 schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
Obasanjo, a former military general, rejected the government’s non-kinetic approach. He argued that negotiating with criminals only emboldens them, referencing the recent release of 38 worshippers in Kwara State which was reportedly secured through government negotiation.
No matter what religion you belong to… we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us. Now we have capacity. With drones, we can sleeve them up. You can take them out. Why are we not doing that? Why are we apologising? Why are we negotiating?
Obasanjo stated that citizens have a right to call on the international community if their own government proves incapable of securing their lives and property. He questioned why the military is not utilizing modern technology, such as drones, to neutralize threats. He noted that even during his tenure, the capacity to track criminals existed, and with today’s advancements, security forces should be able to sleeve them up and take them out.
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