A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (JACCSON) has written letters to the United States of America and the European Union, asking them to place a travel ban on the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a letter signed by the group national convener, Musa Omede, the group said it has uncovered plans by the former president to instigate violence in the country during the forthcoming general election.
The letter read: “It is instructive to state that this unholy plot to disrupt our nascent democracy by General Olusegun Obasanjo according to reasonable intelligence is as a result of the likely outcome of the elections that would likely not be in favour of his preferred candidate and his former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“The plan is that after the Open Letter attack on the pages of the newspapers, bombs would begin to detonate in public places such as motor parks, markets and places of worship.
“Also, the activities of kidnappers would escalate beyond human comprehension across the country, as well as the activities of Armed bandits mainly in the North Western part of Nigeria and other places where President Muhammadu Buhari has large followership.
“We also have credible information that suggests that a part of the plot is for the actualization of an interim government to be headed by a stooge and a trusted ally if the plot to destabilize the country comes to fruition.
“This is indeed worrisome, and a significant threat to our nascent democracy if urgent and proactive steps are not taken. And one of such measures was the red alert issued by the Honourable Minister of Information on Monday, 21 January 2019 at a World Press Conference.
“This obvious threat has indeed necessitated this SAVE OUR COUNTRY letter to the United States of America, Britain and the European Union to come to the aid of Nigeria in protecting our nascent democracy.
“Consequently, as part of other measures in place to thwart this evil plot we are by this letter requesting for a travel ban to be imposed on General Olusegun Obasanjo so that he does not flee the country after setting it ablaze according to his plans.
“We strongly plead that a travel ban is imposed forthwith on General Olusegun Obasanjo and his associates with whom they have planned to make Nigeria go up in flames.”
We earlier reported that the former governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah, criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent remarks on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Attah said Obasanjo, as an elder statesman, is supposed to promote peace in the nation, not instigate trouble.
