A Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed, has slammed former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Defence Minister, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) over their claims that there was a “Fulanisation” and “Islamisation” agenda.
Mohammed, who is a Kano-based sociopolitical critic, said that Obasanjo and Danjuma were among retired soldiers that “conspired” to impose President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigerians in 2015.
He said that they were only complaining now because they fell out with the Buhari administration.
Recall that Obasanjo in May said that there was a plot by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen to “Islamise Africa” and “Fulanise West Africa”.
Last week, the Nigerian Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) that has Danjuma as a prominent member reported the Buhari administration to the United Kingdom’s All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief.
According to the Christian elders, the Buhari administration has been aiding jihadists instead of ruthlessly fighting them.
However, Mohammed said that both comments were likely to have serious implications for national cohesion and security.
He said, “First and foremost, I have absolute contempt for what Obasanjo and his friends have said about Nigeria. What they have said will threaten the unity of this country and it is painful that they are not really speaking for the generality of Nigerians but merely seeking self-interest.
“These are statements from some elements who attempted to dismember Nigerian and failed and are now arrogating to themselves the task of speaking for Nigerians when they have not so been appointed by the people.
“What is most painful is that they connived and imposed Buhari on the rest of the people and, having failed woefully to control him and his government, they are now trying to voice their failure on the rest of the country as if they are messiahs.
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“Let it be made known to these retired army officers that, in the event of war breaking out on account of their incendiary language, they are not likely to belong to the winning side because Nigerians are now more matured and are not ready to be taking instructions of sermons from soldiers who have no self respect.
“I have no business with Buhari or his administration but we cannot listen to a group of people who are selfishly working to be heard by Nigerians principally for their selfish interests. Nigerians are not ready and willing to allow them to dictate what is good and bad to them anymore.
“They should realize by now that Nigerians do not owe them anything and are not willing to be led or counseled by soldiers anymore.
“These former soldiers actively take undue advantage of Buhari’s inaccurate perception of leadership and the cabal he surrounds himself with to attempt to confuse Nigerians as if they are the voice and conscience of the Nigerian people while seeking to actualize selfish goals.
“If they have forgotten, the former generals should be reminded that they went to war as a choice and had been generously rewarded for services rendered and that Nigerians neither owe them anything nor require selfish counseling on national issues.”