Obasanjo/Jonathan rift: Akanbi, Gbadebo sue for truce

A former President of Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, have called for a truce between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan over their reported rift.

In separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday in Ilorin, they advised the two leaders to concentrate their efforts towards unity and national development rather than dissipating them on causes that would not advance Nigeria.

Akanbi urged the two gladiators to avoid conflict and work together towards the transformation of the country.

He said, “If there is cold war for whatever reason, they should avoid it. They should focus on making Nigeria great. They should focus more on things that would advance this country. They should not dissipate their energies on anti-development issues.”

Gbadebo also told our correspondent that Jonathan’s directive to his aides not to make further comments on the cold war was proper and could help reduce the tension.

The monarch urged Obasanjo and the President to team up and learn from each other’s experience to advance the country.

Gbadebo said, “There are so many styles of leadership. Each one has demonstrated his own style of leadership. You cannot use your own sense alone. There is a saying in Yoruba that ‘you should take advice from others and add it to your own. Good leadership is one thing that is still missing in this country.”

He stated that traditional rulers in the country should collaborate with the government to address corruption and insecurity.

He also condemned insecurity in some parts of the country, adding that lawlessness must not be encouraged.

“What is bad is bad. We cannot condone any kind of lawlessness because if you do, then you are encouraging others who are already inclined to lawlessness to be become more lawless. Whatever we do, we should remember that if we are soft on people who are lawless, it can get worse. It will get to the extent where you will not be able to control the country,” he said.

The monarch also urged the National Assembly to grant specific roles to traditional rulers in the ongoing constitution review.

He said it was worrisome that traditional rulers, despite their efforts in nation building, had yet to be accorded specific roles in the constitution.

Source - Punch