• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Nigeria is diminished – Obasanjo

Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president on Saturday declared that Nigeria had been diminished by the spate of killings and high level of insecurity in the country. Obasanjo was reacting to the murder of Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on Friday.

He said that Olakunri’s killing by suspected Fulani herdsmen was a worrisome development in the polity, especially, at a time when all well-meaning Nigerians are preaching tolerance and political accommodation in national politics.

In a condolence letter to Fasoranti, which was made available to newsmen through his Special Assistant Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, Obasanjo tasked the security agents to fish out those responsible for the heinous crime.

According to him, “This is a worrisome development in our polity, especially, at a time when all well-meaning Nigerians are preaching tolerance and political accommodation in national politics.

“I must say Nigeria as a whole is diminished by the manner of Funke’s death. We deplore this dastardly act and seize this opportunity to call on governments at all levels to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our security agents vigorously pursue and find the perpetrators of such heinous crime and make them face the full weight of the law. We must, together, find solution to all acts of insecurity in the country, particularly acts of banditry, kidnapping, robbery and killing by the suspected Fulani herdsmen,” he said.

The former president, who hinted that the condolence letter would be delivered by Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Oluwole Fasawe to Fasoranti in Akure, because of his engagement in Morocco, says:

“As you mourn the tragic loss of our very dear Funke, please be assured of the sympathy and profound sorrow of many others like me who are saddened by the manner of her demise, especially as she still had a lot to contribute to the nation and her family to which she was highly devoted.

“Let me also implore you to be strong for the entire family. I pray that God Himself will comfort you and sustain the whole family in this hour of painful trial. And may the soul of the dear departed rest in perfect peace.

“Because I have to be in Morocco, I am sending a delegation of Otunba Oluwole Fasawe and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola with this letter and to personally deliver my condolence,” he stated.

 

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta