In the buildup to the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned Nigerians against re-electing Muhammad Buhari.

According to Obasanjo, the President is not physically and mentally sound to lead a country like Nigeria.

Olusegun Obasanjo 

In an open letter titled “Point for Concern and Action,” the former President also alleged that Buhari was acting like a former military dictator, Sani Abacha.

The letter dated January 20, 2019, read, “While Nigeria must appreciate Buhari for the little he has done and allow him to depart for home in peace if he allows free, fair, peaceful and credible elections, we must also tell ourselves that  Nigeria deserves better at this point than what Buhari is capable of offering.  History will note that he has been there.  Nigeria now needs a man with better physical and mental soundness, with an active mind and intellect.

“Let me say again that Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and exists for the benefit of all Nigerians and non-Nigerians who desire to live or do business in and with Nigeria.  The attitude of “it is my turn and I can do what I like” with impunity will not last because God creates Nigeria and it will outlive all evil machinations and designs against the overall interest of Nigeria.

“Before I conclude, let me assert that the security situation has deteriorated with kidnapping everywhere and Boko Haram more in action and nobody should deceive Nigerians about this.

“With the teaming up of Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram is stronger today militarily than they have ever been.  The Nigerian government has also empowered Boko Haram through the payment of a ransom of millions of dollars which each administration disingenuously always denies.

“With ISIS being liquidated in Iraq and Syria, Africa is now their port of concentration.  Soon, they may take over Libya, which, with substantial resources, is almost a failed state.  When that happens, all African countries North of Congo River will be unsafe with serious security problems.  The struggle must be for all West African, Central African, North African and most East African States.  Nigeria has to play a vanguard role in this struggle as we have much to lose.

“This administration has reached the end of its wit even in handling all security issues, but particularly Boko Haram issue, partly due to misuse of security apparatus and poor equipment, deployment, coordination and cooperation.

“Finally, those Nigerians that are being intimidated or threatened by this administration must trust in God and stand firm.  Tough times do not last forever, but tough people invariably survive tough times.  This is a tough time for almost all Nigerians in different respects, but the people’s will shall triumph.”

SaharaReporters had on December 15 published a report on how the President’s dementia affected him from visiting Kankara town where gunmen abducted over 300 schoolboys.

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language and thinking abilities – a condition which may be caused by the President’s old age and frequent treatment over an undisclosed medical condition.

“The moment it happened on Friday night, President Buhari was told. But due to dementia, he had forgotten,” a source told SaharaReporters.

It was also gathered that it was the level of dementia and incoherence that made his handlers prevent him from visiting the National Assembly last week after he had promised to do so.

Killings: Benue Farmers Cry Out Over Fulani Herdsmen’s Invasion, Enslavement

Farmers in the Benue-South Senatorial zone of Benue State have cried out over what they described as the increasing unbecoming activities of herdsmen on their farmlands. This situation makes it difficult for them to harvest their farm produce.

A farmer and a member of the vigilante in Edumoga Idoma, who stays in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state explained that the armed herders deliberately grazed their cattle on farmlands and eat the cattle eat up everything.

The farmer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, added that in recent times, the herders allow their cows graze on the farm, but farmers cannot talk for fear of being killed.

According to him, there is much distance between the farming area and the police station where they can lodge any report, and the cattle rearers have allegedly compromised some of the security agencies.

“Even if you succeeded in getting the police to arrest them, the money spent and other expenditure made to convey the police to and from the station would be near the compensation to be paid, if not more.

“If you meet the herdsmen on the farmland, you will be afraid to talk to them because they could kill you, and nothing would happen,” he lamented.

The farmer sighted instances of killings of one farmer, Mr Oleje Obande, in a village known as Otobi and the massacre which took place in Omusu village, among others, in Edumoga Ehaje.

He, therefore, appealed to the Benue State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, and other relevant authorities to intervene and liberate them from hunger, starvation and slavery in their ancestral homes.

Other women and men from Okpiliho, Ipoya Ogege and their environs decried the same situation, calling on the government to assist them and strengthen security in their communities.

“These things have been happening, but we have nobody to complain to. Who will assist us aside from the police who are not empowered,” one of the women said.