2015 Elections: Danger Looms, Bolaji Akinyemi's Open Letter Warns!  

“YourExcellencies,
“Shortly after his appointment as National Security Adviser, General

Andrew Azazi, at his own request, met with me in my office in Lagos to

discuss the state of the nation. It was on the eve of the 2011 elections.

I told the General that I was not worried about the conduct of the

elections or about the outcome which I expected President Jonathan to win.

“What really worried me, I told the General, was the management of the

violence that would ensue after the elections. I was sure that there would

be violence on a massive scale and I made some suggestions to him about

how I thought the violence could be contained.
“My suggestions were not acted upon. The elections occurred, President

Jonathan won and all hell broke loose. Missing were the

conflict-controlled measures which I had discussed with General Azazi.

“Now we are back at the same crossroads again, except this time is more

precarious and dangerous than the last time.
“Firstly, we have this very notorious prediction from United States

semi-official sources that the world is expecting a cataclysmic meltdown

of the Nigerian nation come 2015. Of course, most Nigerians have taken

umbrage at this prediction for their country. But there are Nigerians who

are indifferent to the outcome of this prediction.
“One of my low moments during the just concluded 2014 National Conference

was when in an attempt to break an impasse, I painted a grim picture of

devastation which would follow a breakdown of the Nigerian state, to which

a delegate between 45 and 55 years old replied: 'So what?'

“I thought to myself, here is a man who would probably run away to a

neighbouring country at the boom of the first gun but was callously

indifferent to the fate of the youths, women and children who would be

caught in the middle.
“Secondly, the certainty of violence after the 2015 elections is higher

than it was in 2011. If President Jonathan wins, the North would erupt

into violence as it did in 2011. If General Buhari wins, the Niger Delta

will erupt into violence. I don't believe that we need rocket science to

make this prediction.
“The violence of 2015 is going to be horrendous and worse than the one of

2011 for the simple reason that the illegal, massive importation of

weapons into the country has reached such alarming proportions that I

really wonder which is better armed, the militias on one hand or the

official armed forces on the other hand.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not imputing the illegal importation of

arms to any particular zone. Some years ago, some Iranians were arrested

for bringing in a shipload of weapons into Lagos harbour. They were tried

and jailed and then smuggled out of the country.
“Some months ago, sophisticated weapons were discovered buried in the

basement of a Kano house. All these have now fallen below the radar. These

are the ones we know about. How many do we not know about?

“There are states and movements out there, African and non-African, which

do not mean well for the Nigerian state, which wish Nigeria to dissolve

into a theatre of bloodshed, gore and instability.
“They will succeed if we continue the politics of making enemies of

ourselves and friends of our enemies.
Way forward
“The first step forward is for the two Presidential candidates to meet and

sign a Memorandum of Undertaking that will commit both to:

A civil and peaceful campaign, devoid of threats.
A commitment to preach peaceful elections to their supporters.

A commitment to control their supporters after the elections. Supporters

of whoever loses should be entitled to peaceful protests but not to

violent protests.
“I also appeal to the following:
The Sultan, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II
The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade
The Oba of Benin, OmoN'oba Erediauwa
Chief Emeka Anyaoku
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Pastor Enoch Adeboye
His Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon
His Excellency General Abubakar Abdulsalami to facilitate the

pre-election meeting between the candidates, the preparation of the

Memorandum of Undertaking and as a Council of Wisemen to assist in

managing the post-election conflicts.
“Yours sincerely.
Former Nigerian Foreign Minister and Deputy Chairman, 2014 National

Conference.”
The post 2015 Elections: Danger Looms, Bolaji Akinyemi's Open Letter Warns!   appeared first on Pointblank News .