The Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has warned of possible civil war in Nigeria before or after the 2015 general elections in the country.President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor According to the human rights body, the warning came on the heel of the proliferation of arms in the country and the recent $9.3 million and $5.7 million cash for arms deal in South-Africa by some Nigerians.nChairman of the coalition, Comrade Abiodun Agboola, in a statement made available by the Publicity Secretary of the OCSC, Comrade Ismaeel Uthman, on Tuesday, maintained that some individuals were preparing to unleash terror on the country before or after the 2015 general elections.
Agboola rejected the claim by the Federal Government that the cash was meant to buy arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, stating that it has never been the practice of a reasonable government to fly cash from one country to the other to buy arms.
According to the human rights crusader, the Federal Government might be protecting some individuals that are culpable in the illegal arms deal, describing the claims as flimsy and unreasonable.
The controversy generated by the $9.3 million cash in South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli arms dealer had barely subsided when another $5.7 million, allegedly wired into the account of arms dealer, was intercepted by the South African authorities.
“What we understand is on the two tranches of the cash for arms deal is of money laundering or illegal arms purchase by some individuals close to the power that be,” Agboola said.
He therefore, called on the security agencies to be at alert and rise up to the challenges of insecurity and what he described as possible worse scenario during the election period.
Agboola maintained that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a government that wears regalia of corruption, to absolve itself of the seized $9.3 million by the South African government.
“The reported lies that the money was meant for arms purchase by the Federal Government obviously holds no water.
“If that was actually what the money was meant for, why couldn’t any of our security agencies (Army, Air force, Navy, Police etc) be represented? Why was the National Security Adviser (NSA) not represented? How come no Nigerian diplomat or government official was involved? Why the choice of a private jet owned by the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor?”
“We still need to ask: Why purchasing black market arms? Why just two unofficial government representatives and an Israeli arms dealer on board? Was the money really meant for arms? Our government is covering something up.”
Agboola further stated that as 2015 general election approaches and the politicians are gearing up, issues like this are not unexpected.
“Firstly, to have enough money to buy the votes and secondly, to have something to fall back to if they lose the election.”
He described the arms deal as criminal and unbecoming of responsive government, calling on the security agencies to be professional and thorough in investigating the matter.
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