Obasanjo fires back at Gowon over comment on Boko Haram

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, over the weekend fired back at former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, for calling him “highly irresponsible” for his criticism of the Jonathan administration’s handling of BokoHaram. General Gowon used the phrase on Obasanjo at the launch of a book, ‘Stay At The Top’, authored by a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Omoniyi Komolafe, last week. Obasanjo had called on the President to be tougher on Boko Haram at a book launch in Warri, while delivering a speech to celebrate Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s 40th year in the ministry two weeks ago. He had said there wasneed for President Jonathan to bedecisive in tackling the insecurity, just as he did in dealing with the militancy in Odi, Bayelsa State in 1999. “Obasanjo is highly irresponsible to have made such comments about the present government. Many people have condemned what he (Obasanjo) did in Odi andZaki Biam. So, it was irresponsible for him to defend it or accuse the present administration.” saying “Obasanjo is highly irresponsible to have made such comments about the present government. Many people have condemned what he (Obasanjo) did in Odi andZaki Biam. So, it was irresponsible for him to defend it or accuse the present administration.” “I know people are concerned about the security situation in the country, but I can assure you that the government is doing everything possible to tackle the situation. “I remember during my time as Head of State, when we also had grave challenges. Some people said it was impossible to unite Nigeria and that we could not achieve it. Some also said we could not move the state capital from Lagos to another city. But, eventually, we were able to subdue the security challenges. I can tell you, we would not have been able to do it, if we did not enjoy the support of Nigerians” “I urge our people to love and defend the unity of this country atall times. The government should be given the needed support so that it will be able to function. I am not saying government shouldnot be criticised when it is doing wrong, but we should not say or do things that will cause more tension and confusion in our land” he had said. But in a statement released yesterday, Obasanjo said through his media assistant, Malam Garba Deen Mohammed, that he showedhis commitment to peace by leaving Abeokuta to Maiduguri to mediate with Boko Haram and asked where Gowon was all that time. “There’s nothing irresponsible about my comments on the insecurity in Nigeria. I was only interpreting the reality. I expressed an opinion on the way the Boko Haram crisis is being handled and said if the current strategy is not working, then there has to be a change of strategy to achieve results. If the strategy were working, Boko Haram would have become a thing of the past by now.” It said further that, “In expressing my opinion, I drew from my personal experience. General Gowon can disagree with me without being insultive. Gowon’s comment is unkind, unfair, and unguarded.” “Just two weeks ago, the government of Borno State came out in the open to declare that it had been abandoned by the Federal Government. Why didn’t Gowon convince the Federal Government to help Maiduguri?” “Where was Gowon? Why has he not visited Maiduguri to solicit for peace? Is he not a leader of the North? What effort has he made to ensure an end to the crisis?”