Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo used a private visit to Sierra Leone to condemn international action against Libya's Muammar Qadaffy....who single-handedly turned a moderately prosperous kingdom into a dictator's fantasyland...
Mr Obasanjo, who was in the country as a special guest of President Ernest Bai Koroma who has himself consistently refused to openly take side on the Libyan conflict, questioned the rationale behind resorting to violence in efforts to bring about change in Libya.
"It would have been sensible if peace between Qadaffy and his people had been negotiated instead of having to resort to causing more damage that would take so much to repair," the former Nigerian leader told a presser at State House in Freetown at the end of his visit.
Nigeria was among the first few African countries to endorse the National Transitional Council rebels as 'legitimate' representative of the Libyan people.
Despite his opposition towards the treatment of the former Libyan strongman, Mr Obasanjo saw the North African crisis as a message for fellow African leaders.
"North Africa has given a lesson to all of us," he said. "The first lesson is that the apparent economic progress is not enough to satisfy the yearning of the people for they want to have a feeling of fulfillment, and choice."
Mr Obsasanjo, however, added that changes in any country and in the world, particularly in Africa, must be left in the hands of the people, as revolution from outside might not immediately bring lasting peace to a country.