Former President Olusegun Obasnjo said in a speech on Friday at the 2020 Annual Sobo Sowemimo Lecture held at the Abeokuta Club in Abeokuta, that it is time for Nigerians to force change by backing their complaints against bad governance with appropriate actions.
The former president who expressed his concerns over the state of the country particularly, its security challenges, said he believes the country has all it takes to get things right again.
Suggesting a struggle somewhat like the Black Lives Matter (BLM), which recently took the world by storm, he said Nigerians should launch and promote a "crusade on the slogan, 'Security Matters To All; No security, No Nigeria'".
He said: “The solution lies in men and women imbued with courage, nationalism, patriotism, commitment, foresight and love in critical mass to spearhead the crusade for new Nigeria.
“The time is now. Delay is postponing the evil day.”
The former president similarly called for serious attention towards the country’s economic challenges, saying that “I see it as a matter of life and death for our country, which must not be toyed with”.
He said: “Insecurity brought about by widespread criminality of Boko Haram, insurgents, herdsmen/farmers conflict, terrorists, bandits, armed robbers, militants, kidnappers, abductors and human traffickers is a new phenomenon that is ravaging the entire country.
“Prompt action is required from all well-meaning Nigerians from across the board as we are all victims and hostages.
“We must not adopt position of mindlessness ‘do nothing’ and allow a few to wreck our present and our future.”