Olusegun Obasanjo, Former president of Nigeria, said that another Abacha era is back in Nigeria, when state institutions were used to fight perceived enemies of the head of state.
He urged Nigerians to appreciate President Muhammad Buhari for the little he has done for the country in the last three years and eight months and allow him to go home peacefully.
Obasanjo said this on Sunday in his state of the nation address which he tagged “Points for Concern and Action”.
“Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy. EFCC, Police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results. Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy. If democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow”, Obasanjo said.
“Today, as in the day of Abacha, Nigerians must rise up and do what they did in the time of Abacha. Churches and Mosques prayed. International community stood by us Nigerians. I was a beneficiary and my life was saved. Well-meaning Nigerians took appropriate actions and made sacrifices, some supreme, some less than supreme but God had the final say and He took the ultimate action.”, he added