Nigeria Now at Highest Moment of Fracture – Obasanjo

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has reportedly expressed concern over the various agitations in the country, saying this is affecting Nigeria’s unity.

According to The Sun, Obasanjo warned that the country was now at the highest moment of fracture since the civil war between 1967 and 1970.

Obasanjo said this on Tuesday at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ national summit held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

“At no time in our history, except probably during the civil war, has Nigeria been so fractured in the feeling of oneness and belongingness by the citizenry.

In the last four months, we have an average of 20 hotspots across the country with huge potential for national disintegration,” the former states man was quoted as saying.

News 24 reports that Obasanjo’s remarks came a few days after seven suspects were arrested in the country for allegedly supplying high-calibre explosives and detonators to militants wreaking havoc on key pipelines and facilities.

Nigeria has been plagued with devastating attacks by militant group the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) since the start of the year.

Oil majors like Shell, Chevron, Exxon, Eni and state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation have been targeted.

The attacks have slashed output at a time when Nigeria is struggling with low global crude prices which have hammered government revenues, weakening the naira currency and pushing up inflation to 16.5%, an 11-year high.

The rebels want oil majors to leave the Niger delta, blaming them for contributing to widespread poverty and under-development of the region.

They also seek self-determination for the oil-producing states in the delta.

The Avengers, who have spurned a government truce, are believed to have sympathies for Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, a fugitive former militant leader wanted for corruption charges.