Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /  H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria speaks at Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington D.C. Oct. 15, 2019

By Gary  Raynaldo   /   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  D.C. –  NIGERIA:  Africa’s most populous nation of approximately 200 million people with more than 300 ethnic groups who are split almost evenly among Muslims and Christians. A recipe for violent conflict?   H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, addressed this issue and others in a Conversation entitled: “Managing Nigeria’s Diversity Amidst Rising Ethno-religious Tensions” held Tuesday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington D.C.   In this conversation, President Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s President from 1999-2007, shared his reflections on the drivers, scope and trajectories, and implications of the persistent ethno-religious tensions in Nigeria, and then offered some suggestions on measures that can be taken to address and manage these tensions toward a more inclusive Nigeria. Obasanjo was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Nigeria.  The West African nation is currently plagued by deadly ethnic and religious violence, and  is home to one of the world’s most deadly Islamic terror groups, BOKA HARAM.  The United Nations estimates that 1.7 million people are internally displaced from Boko Haram’s insurgency and the group has killed more than 15,200 people since 2011, according to some estimates.

“When people ask me, ‘What are your worst fears about Africa,’ I never hesitate to mention two issues: management or mismanagement of diversity and management or mismanagement of population, particularly the youth bulge. The third one that is rearing its ugly head is credibility of elections and the effect of that on democracy and governance. If we are able to manage diversity successfully through good governance and good leadership, we will, by extension, manage population and electoral process is also likely to be well-managed to give free, fair, credible, and generally acceptable election results. Diversity by itself is no problem.”

-Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Credit: Gary Raynaldo / H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria with Congressman Frank Wolf, Former Representative, Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, United States House of Representatives at Wilson International Center Washington D.C. Oct. 15, 2019. 

The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria added:

“The question now is, ‘Who will save Nigeria; make it secure with well-managed diversity, fast-growing economy for some social order, satisfactory development, and improved living standard for all citizens?’ The answer to me is simple and straightforward: it’s the Nigerians. And here, I want to commend the Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.” 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Boko Haram Terrorism In Nigeria Is Genocide Taking Place: Congressman Wolf

“I believe that genocide is taking  place in Nigeria. Boko Haram has killed more than 27,000 civilians. More than ISIS killed in Iraq and Syria combined. According to the Global Terrorism index, Nigeria is the world’s third most dangerous country after Afghanistan and Iraq.”

-Congressman Frank Wolf, Former Representative, Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, United States House of Representatives

Congressman Wolf called for appointment of a  Special Envoy for Nigeria and Lake Chad region

“America should always speak out and take action against genocide, against crimes against crimes against humanity. We must not forget history, when the world and the United States ignored the genocide in Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of people died. I can still remember. The cables were coming into the State Department, cables were coming into the UN, and the world ignored what was taking place,” Congressman Wolf stated.  The Congressman called for a Special Envoy for Nigeria and Lake Chad region amid the “genocide”.    “I believe that we need a special envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region who can coordinate the response to the crisis by various agencies of our government, and who can work with allies in France and England and other countries on terrorism, hunger, sexual trafficking, corruption, religious freedom, human rights violations education—all of the different aspects.”

“It said, ‘So goes Nigeria, so goes all of Africa.’ It is clear that the crisis plaguing Nigeria is multifaceted, but one that must be addressed by the Nigerian government and the U.S. government and the international community,”  Congressman Wolf.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO /  H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria at Wilson Center  Washington DC

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO /  H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria at Wilson Center  Washington DC,  answers questions at Wilson Center Washington D.C. Oct. 15 2019

“Yes, This Country Needs A Special Envoy”:   H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /  H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria speaks at Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington D.C. Oct. 15, 2019

H.E. Obasanjo agreed with Congressman Wolf that Nigeria needs a Special Envoy. “Since Independence, Nigeria has not been more divided as it is today due  to mismanagement of diversity,”  he stated.