The Desperation Of Youths To Leave The Country Is Worrisome- Obasnajo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, has
expressed his concern over the current wave of desperate youths risking their
lives to travel to Europe and the maltreatment they received from their hosts
in African continent. Obasanjo in a statement he personally signed, yesterday,
however, called for probe of the death of Nigerians and other immigrants in
Libya, saying the incident is the direct action of Western powers which is
responsible for the current anarchy in the country .

“It is thus a matter of considerable sadness for me when I
witness the current wave of desperate youths risking their lives to travel to
Europe and the futile efforts of European countries to deal with those who have
already set sail or have even reached shores of the European continent.

“The current inflow of African refugees into Europe from
Libya is a direct consequence. The government in Libya which in 2000 acted
humanely and responsibly to stem the outflow of illegal migrants to Europe has
been replaced by unconscionable bandits and terrorists who have forcibly seized
the instruments of state to facilitate human trafficking and illegal migration
for their own material benefit.

“It is time for the international community and particularly
African leaders to take a good look at the factors responsible for the death
and destruction with the Mediterranean by illegal migration of youths from
Africa and address the causes in an honest, responsible, humane and holistic
manner rather than the current futile attempt to half-heartedly deal with the
symptoms rather than the cause.

“The sure way of prevention is the elimination of conflict
and abject poverty and creation of employment in the countries where migrants
originate. In the meantime, let AU form a bulwark to stem the spate of migrants
from Africa across the Mediterranean to Europe. It can be done”.