Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been overwhelmed by the insecurity challenges, following the recent attack on a Kaduna-bound train.

At least seven persons have been confirmed dead in the attack, while several passengers are reportedly missing.

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had vowed to hire foreign mercenaries to fight against terrorists if the Federal Government does not end the ongoing spate of terror attacks in the region.

Obasanjo described the attack as a “serious situation.”

He spoke at his penthouse residence, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Ugochukwu Williams, and his team.

Obasanjo expressed concern that Nigerians “are no longer safe on the road, in the train and at the airport,” calling for a concerted effort of stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

The former President said though the present administration has been overwhelmed by the situation, Nigerians must not allow the situation to overwhelm the country.

He said: “So, if anybody comes to say I want to see you, I want to talk to you, I will say ‘you’re welcome’. This is because I believe very strongly, and I have said it publicly and I will say it again that the situation we are in this country is not a situation where one man will say yes, he has a solution, unless we are deceiving ourselves. I believe we need to sit down collectively and look at the situation.

“A situation where you are not safe on the road, you are not safe in the train, you are not safe at the airport, that shows a very serious situation.

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“I believe that all right-thinking Nigerians must know that we have a situation that has overwhelmed the present administration, but we should not allow that situation to overwhelm Nigeria.”

He, however, wished Williams well in the pursuit of his presidential ambition.

In his remarks, Williams, flanked by House of Representatives aspirants from Plateau and Imo states, said he had visited Obasanjo for consultation on his presidential ambition.

He described Obasanjo as a leader who is passionate about peace and unity of Nigeria.

The young presidential aspirant said he was on a mission to “rescue Nigeria”, which he said has been bedevilled with insecurity and other socio-economic challenges.

If elected, Williams vowed to end “moneybag” politics, provide jobs, tackle insecurity and other challenges in Nigeria.

The Star