Mutiny in Cote d’voire : Obasanjo sues for dialogue with Ivorian govt.

A former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has appeal to the soldiers in Cote d’voire to embrace dialogue, and allow the government to look into their complaints.

Obasanjo who expressed concern over soldiers protest over wage and bonus noted that though they were entitled to their wages and bonuses, they must act within the code of good conduct and military discipline..

Cote d’voire is currently facing mass protest by her soldiers over wage and bonus dispute.

The soldiers had reportedly broke out of their barracks and embarked on sporadic shootings and threats to civilian lives over a wage and bonus dispute.

According to a statement signed by Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Owu Chief express concern over soldiers protest and urged to return to their barracks and awaits Ivoirian Government’s decision on their plight .

He said, “I believe most of us in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, have been worried and felt concerned about the standoff and unwholesome situation in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire where the disgruntled Ivoirian soldiers broke out of their barracks and embarked on sporadic shootings and threats to civilian lives over a wage and bonus dispute.

“While as a former Comrade of those soldiers, I would wish that they have their required bonuses and enhanced wages but as military men, they must act within the code of good conduct and military discipline.

“I appeal to these disgruntled soldiers to peacefully return to their barracks and await the Ivoirian Government’s consideration of their complaints and demands.

“Collectively and individually, our countries in West Africa make peace for development, growth and progress and nothing must be done to reverse the progress so far made by the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire under President Alassane Ouattara.”

Obasanjo, however, urged the government of Cote d’Ivoire to speedily attend to the complaints of the agitated soldiers to bring the country to normalcy.