The Nigerian Presidency has faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his remark that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has failed in its responsibilities to protect Nigerians from bandits and terrorists. The menace of banditry and terrorism was incubated under your watch as president, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, said in his posts on his verified X handle on Sunday.
Dare while responding to the former president harsh condemnation of the incumbent’s handling of the threat posed by terrorists and bandits to the country, said it was “reckless” and ironic that Obasanjo who failed to stop Boko Haram at its inception is now pontificating and condemning President Tinubu’s handling of the problem.
While speaking at the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival held in Jos, Palteau state last weekned, the former Nigerian leader accused President Tinubu of abdication of his duty to protect the country, saying the incumbent must seek external assistance because the matter seems to be beyond its capacity to handle.
Obansanjo had called on Tinubu to apologise to Nigerians and stop making excuses for its failures to rein in insecurity in the country, instead of negotiating and pacifying terrorists. .
“Our government must stop apologising and negotiating with terrorists. No matter what religion you belong to. No matter where you come from. No matter your profession, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us,’ Obasanjo said.
Reacting in a series of posts on his X, Dare said it’s a histortical fact that Boko Hram insurgency started under Obasanjo, who he said failed to nip it in the bud, allowing the terrorist to transform to a full blown insurgency that now threaten the peace of the country.
He said while Nigeria is opened to support from the United States and the International Community to combat the menace, she will not surrender its sovereignty to outsiders in trying to achieve this aim.
He said former President Obansanjo should owned up to his failure to contain terrorists while in power, adding that he has lost his position as a statesman by openly rebutting the Tinubu’s administration, which he said is committed to ending insecurity in the country.
“It is historical fact that the ideological foundations and early cells of Boko Haram were incubated during Obasanjo’s civilian presidency. While they recruited, indoctrinated, built camps, and flaunted authority, the state failed to act decisively,” Dare said.
“What began as a preventable extremist sect transformed into: a violent insurgency; across-border terrorist franchise; a regional menace aligned with global jihadist movements.
“For the leader under whom the first seeds of terrorism were allowed to germinate to now issue public lectures is not just ironic, it is reckless.”
“The suggestion that Nigeria should effectively subcontract its internal security to foreign governments is not statesmanship; it is capitulation. Before recommending surrender, the former President should reflect on what he failed to do when these terrorists first began organising under his watch.
“Nigeria will cooperate internationally, yes, but it will not outsource its security or raise a white flag because someone who once had the chance lost his nerve. Yes. Nigeria needs the support and understanding of the United States and that is already ongoing. And of course the collaboration of other allied nations.
“The crime at hand is transnational. Every ungoverned space must come under scrutiny.”
He urged the former president to use his international connections to assist the country instead of openly critising ongoing efforst to combat the menace of banditry and insurgency, assuring Nigerians that President Tinubu will not renege in his resolve to end the problem by bringing down the full weight of state power on the criminals.
He said: “If Obasanjo wishes to help, he should acknowledge the past failures that allowed terrorists to gain a foothold, and then support ongoing efforts, not undermine them. Let him put his position and connections at Nigeria’s disposal like he has done for other Countries. Not seek to put down an administration that is fully engaging in many fronts : Economic Turnaround, Providing Security and Building key Infrastructure.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to securing every inch of Nigeria by confronting terrorists with strength, unity, and a whole-of-government strategy. Let all patriots join hands now and not raise alarms.
“This administration will not be distracted by selective amnesia wrapped in elder-statesmanship, nor will it allow those who midwifed Nigeria’s early security failures to rewrite history.”
“When former leaders disparage the nation’s capacity, they hand psychological victories to the very terrorists murdering, kidnapping and extorting Nigerians – terrorising Nigerians in plain language. A real statesman offers support, not soundbites.”
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