A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, have called on President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo to bury the hatchet between them and end their reported rift.
In separate interviews, they urged the two leaders to concentrate their efforts on fostering unity and national development rather than on needless issues that would not add anything to Nigeria.
Justice Akanbi said the two gladiators should avoid conflict and work together so that Nigeria can be transformed.
“If there was a cold war for any reason, they should avoid it. They should focus on making Nigeria great and on things that would advance this country, rather than dissipating their energies on issues that are anti-development.”
Oba Gbadebo said Jonathan did the right thing in directing his aides to cease making comments on the cold war as this would help in dousing the tension.
The royal father urged the President and the former President to bring their teams together so that they can learn from each other and advance the country.
Gbadebo said, “There are so many styles of leadership. Each one has demonstrated his own style of leadership. You cannot use your own sense alone. There is a saying in Yoruba that ‘you should take advice from others and add it to your own. Good leadership is one thing that is still missing in this country.”
He noted that traditional rulers in the country should collaborate with the government so that corruption and insecurity can be squarely addressed.
He also condemned the lawlessness and insecurity in some parts of the country, adding that it should not be encouraged.
“What is bad is bad. We cannot condone any kind of lawlessness because if you do, then you are encouraging others who are already inclined to lawlessness to be become more lawless. Whatever we do, we should remember that if we are soft on people who are lawless, it can get worse. It will get to the extent where you will not be able to control the country,” he said.
The monarch also urged the National Assembly to recognize the efforts of traditional rulers in nation-building and accord them specific roles in the ongoing constitution review.