Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has highlighted how the Buhari-led administration paved the way for the crisis between farmers and herders in the country.
Obasanjo made this known in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday.
The former President stated that the crisis started when the Federal Government treated the issue with a “cuddling glove instead of harmer”.
Obasanjo further bemoaned that the crisis, which has escalated into criminality, has been linked to the Fulani tribe, urging the Fulanis to come out with their grievances if they have any.
The letter read in part, “Herdsmen/farmers crises and menace started with government treating the issue with cuddling glove instead of a hammer.
“It has festered and spread. Today, it has developed into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and killings all over the country.
“The unfortunate situation is that the criminality is being perceived as a ‘Fulani’ menace unleashed by Fulani elite in the different parts of the country for a number of reasons but even more, unfortunately, many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who are friends of Nigeria attach vicarious responsibility to you as a Fulani elite and the current captain of the Nigeria ship. Perception may be as potent as reality at times.
“Whatever may be the grievances of Fulanis, if any, they need to be put out in the open and their grievances, if legitimate, be addressed; and if other ethnic groups have grievances, let them also be brought out in the open and addressed through debate and dialogue,” Obasanjo stated.
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