Obasanjo Slams Buhari’s Administration, Says ‘Another Abacha Era Is Here’

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, has again slammed President Muhammadu Buhari describing his administration as ‘another Abacha era’.  

 

Obasanjo made the remark in his 16-page open letter, titled ‘Points for concern and action’, which he gave to journalists at a press conference held on Sunday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

 

 

“Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledging 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 to 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.

“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,” part of the book read.

Obasanjo was imprisoned by Sani Abacha, former military Head of State, in 1995 over an alleged coup plot, but he was released in 1998 after the death of the military ruler.

He was then elected president of Nigeria twice, from 1999 to 2007, having been a military head of state himself from 1976 to 1979.