Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday, received Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and a delegation of eight to his country home in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Other dignitaries present at the reception were Oba Babajide Bakre, Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta; Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, Chairman of Ogun State Christian Association of Nigeria; Sheikh Sa’addallah Alade Bamigbola, Chief Imam of Egbaland; Chief Kenny Martins, Chief Ola Babajide Jaiyeoba, Rev. Tony Ojeshina, Chief Imams of Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu and Mr. Vitalis Ortese.

Gumi said the meeting was part of his continued efforts to find solutions to the general insecurity in the country and particularly for the menace of banditry, kidnapping and ransom payment.

Gumi’s delegation includes Usman Yusuf, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Dr. Umar Ardo, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Honourable Suleiman Gumi, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu and Mallam Buba Mohammed.

He briefed Obasanjo with other hosts on the measures and steps he had taken and spearheaded to stem the tide of insecurity and menace of banditry, kidnapping and ransom payment in many parts of the North.

Obasanjo commended Sheikh Gumi for his initiative and encouraged him not to relent in his efforts.

The Sheikh thanked the former president for his past services emphasising the special unifying efforts and attributes to the nation and for the warm welcome accorded his delegation.

The duo enjoined all well-meaning Nigerians to be involved in finding solutions by desisting from blame game; ethnicising crimes; religionising crimes, regionalising crimes and respecting one another individually, community-wise, locally, ethnically, religiously and socially.

They also canvassed that the State Governments must have adequate means of providing security for their people and as Chief Executives and Chief Security Officers of their states, they must have the means at their disposal to ensure security for all within their states.

The two leaders said the Federal Government must be proactive, secure necessary and updated intelligence to deal with organised crimes and have common policy for the nation.

“It is not solving the problem when one state goes for negotiation and molly-cuddling of criminals and another one goes for shooting them.  Nor should one state go for ransom payment and another one going against,” they said.