Obasanjo writes Buhari, wants him to tackle insecurity

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo says the security situation in the country could lead to “spontaneous or planned reprisal attacks against Fulanis, which may inadvertently or advertently lead into a Rwanda-type genocide.

In an open letter addressed to president Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Obasanjo warned that Nigeria is tipping towards a dangerous cliff and only the president could forestall such a looming disaster.

In the past two years, hundreds have people have died in clashes involving Fulani herdsmen and farming communities, mostly in the central region of Nigeria.

Mr Obasanjo was head of state between 1999 and 2007, having ruled as a military leader between 1975 to 1979.

He is known for his open letters to political leaders and has written to president Buhari in the past, drawing a harsh rebuttal from the government in the build up to the 2019 general elections.

Mr Obasanjo’s letter seems to have been provoked by the killing of Funke Olakunrin, the 58-year-old daughter of Reuben Fasoranti, a leader of one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups – the Yoruba.