Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and prominent Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi yesterday called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate bandits who are willing to surrender. The call came after Gumi led a delegation to meet Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

A source present at the meeting told Vanguard that Gumi’s choice of Chief Obasanjo was based on the fact that the former president is a critical stakeholder and a respected senior statesman with whom to discuss such issues.

Gumi briefed Obasanjo on his recent peace defense visits to the Fulani bandits in the north, hoping that the government would better understand the situation and adopt his suggestions as the best possible way to end the current crisis of insecurity.

Members of Sheik Gumi’s entourage included Prof. Usman Yusuf, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Dr. Umar Ardo, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Suleiman Gumi, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, and Mallam Buba Mohammed. Others in the meeting are Oba Babajide Bakre, Agura de Gbagura, Abeokuta; Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, President of the Nigerian Ogun State Christian Association; Sheikh Sa’addallah Alade Bamigbola, Egbaland Chief Imam; Chief Kenny Martins, Chief Ola Babajide Jaiyeoba; Rev. Tony Ojeshina, Magnets in Chief of Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu and Mr. Vitalis Ortese. In a statement jointly signed by Obasanjo and Gumi at the end of the meeting, they both agreed that the threat of banditry, kidnapping, other crimes and atrocities that lead to insecurity is a national phenomenon. The statement reads: “We recognize that people from different parts and outside the country are involved, although some people are more involved than others.

“We recognize that the security situation has gone beyond tolerance; hence Sheikh Gumi comes to Abeokuta to talk with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. “We identified the crisis as a micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani and many host communities, mainly in the Northwest. “Solutions must be seen and provided in the short, medium and long term and must be made up of a carrot and stick for the criminal and the vulnerable.

“All well-meaning Nigerians have to participate in finding solutions to crises by desisting from the blame game or ethnicizing these crimes; desist from religiousizing or regionalizing these crimes; respect each other individually, at the community, local, ethnic, religious and social levels; show tolerance and accommodation, when necessary; condemn criminal acts, no matter where they are committed or whoever commits them in Nigeria; encourage more carrot solution, as deemed necessary; share information at all levels; not accept crime as a way of life for any individual or group in our nation. “Since the end of the civil war, the military has been the strongest and most powerful instrument and symbol of national unity that we have and we must keep it that way. FG must update intelligence “The federal government must be proactive, ensure the necessary and updated intelligence to confront organized crime and have a common policy for the nation. “It will not solve the problem when one state tries to negotiate and deceive criminals and another to shoot them. Nor should one state choose to pay a ransom and another go against it. “Education is one of the main keys to solving the problem in the long term, but it must start now.

The 14 million children who should be in school, but who are not, must enter school with the collaboration of local authorities, state governments and the federal government. “Weaning those who are ready to be weaned from the bushes and crime, settle and rehabilitate them, give them skills, empower them and allow them to have a job.” “Hardened criminals must be beaten with sticks. The illegal carrying of weapons should be punished very seriously.

“The Federal Government should take the issue seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional solution. “All communities must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against criminals. “There should be covert protection and reward for whistleblowers against offenders living in the community. “Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping and demand for ransom and illegal possession of weapons. Let the motto be: Safety is the responsibility of all Nigerians. “We agree to continue working together to find solutions for the security of Nigeria and to seek others to join us as we widely distribute our joint statement. “To this end, Sheikh Gumi has extended an invitation to Chief Obasanjo

to visit Kaduna, with a view to continuing the speech started today, and Obasanjo kindly accepted.

“We conclude that keeping Nigeria safe and secure for all Nigerians and others living in Nigeria is a task in which all well-meaning Nigerians must participate, separately and collectively. “We both resolved that we would not give up our efforts. Delegations from both sides endorsed this statement. We

agrees to meet again in due course to re-examine progress and the security situation in Nigeria ”.