OBJ + North - GEJ = 2015

Some days ago, former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted a number of Northern political and business elites in the premises of his 'Presidential Library'. It was a fundraiser for a N350 Million Olusegun Obasanjo Baytus Salam Central Mosque. Honestly, I'm confused regarding Obasanjo's motive. Vanguard believes its related to the 2015 election. Maybe they're right.

Recently, Obasanjo was in Warri and joined to mark the 40th anniversary of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s call to ministry. Speaking at a lecture delivered by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Obasanjo made some comments that points us towards 2015 election. Aside disagreeing with President Jonathan's handling of Boko Haram, he disagreed with Professor Akinyemi on a number of pertinent national issues.

During his lecture, Professor Akinyemi said the way we can have a consensus in the country is to have a national conference, but Obasanjo disagreed. On federal character, while Professor Akinyemi favours a progressive and merit-based means of choosing leaders, Obasanjo was of the opinion that every nation of the world has its own peculiar way of addressing its peculiar problems.

Surprised how few days later Obasanjo would host a fundraiser to build a mosque and arabic school, and in attendance were Northern elites (including Atiku Abubakar) who have been clamouring for a return of power to the region. Obasanjo siding the North, plus ACN, CPC, and Disgruntled Nigerians, President Jonathan's chances of a re-election in 2015 (if he has one) looks really slim.

Boko Haram: To Negotiate Or Not?

In summary, here is Boko Haram's condition if Nigeria must be peaceful again. To ceasefire completely, the group wants the government to prosecute Senator Modu Sheriff; compensate their members; rebuild their places of worship destroyed during 2009 uprising, which led to the murder of their leader; release all their members who were arrested and their wives and children who were displaced following the crises must be rehabilitated into the society.

These they say must first be in place to allow room for the much talked about dialogue with the Federal Government. How realistic these conditions are is not my question, but whether the Federal Government have the moral right to negotiate with Boko Haram and enter into agreement on behalf of the victims of a terrorist group that have unjustifiably destroyed families, properties and distorted the way Southern Nigeria relates with the North?

Let's say the Federal Government were to grant their request to rebuild their places of worship, release their members, re-unite and rehabilitate their displaced wives and children to their members, wouldn't that be injustice to the hundreds of victims who have seen their worship centres destroyed and family members killed? I mean, who would rebuild the churches and mosques destroyed by Boko Haram? For Christ sake who will raise the dead?