I Risked My Life Over Boko Haram – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he risked his life by embarking on secret visit to leaders of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo, who revealed that his secret visit was to “talk sense” into leaders of the violent group, said he does not subscribe to the erroneous notion that all Muslims are terrorists. He spoke as special guest of honour at the National Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at held weekend in Ilaro, Ogun State to commemorate the 100 years of existence of the organisation.The former president, sometime in 2011, visited the home of the in-law to the slain leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, in Borno State where he met Babakura Fuggu.In his address titled, “Love for all, all for love” Obasanjo expressed concern that the global image of Islam had been constructed by the actions and inactions of violent groups with horrendous activities.He argued that all the “crazy people” that claim Islam and perpetrate atrocities all over the world are far below one percent of the global Muslim population.The ex-president, however, said Ahmadiyya and similar organisations must not be complacent when the narrative or perception of Islam is dictated by the fringe minority.