Obasanjo Says Boko Haram has “Legitimate Grievances”

Former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo believes that Boko Haram has “legitimate grievances.”

He expressed this opinion during an interview with International Business Times UK, which was held on the sidelines of the Global Education Forum conference in Dubai.

Obasanjo stated his reasoning behind his belief, stating that “while 79% of Nigerians received education in the south west of the country and 77% in the south east, in the Boko Haram stronghold of the north east that figure was just 19%.”

“We don’t need [anyone] to tell [us] that that is a problem. A problem of disparity, a problem of marginalisation. A problem because education is fundamental to your employability, to your living conditions. If you are not educated you are handicapped,” he said.

He however stated that while education is important, President Jonathan’s failure to commence fighting the Boko Haram insurgency when it first emerged, had given the group confidence to spread their reign of terror.