Boko Haram began under your watch – Presidency replies Obasanjo

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other critics for what he described as “ignoble” attempts to undermine the current administration’s efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

In a statement titled “Between Tinubu’s Capability and the Ignobility of Pseudo Statesmanship,” issued via his X handle on Sunday, Dare addressed recent comments from Obasanjo and “habitual presidential aspirants” portraying the Tinubu government as incapable of protecting Nigerians.

Dare argued that such criticisms ignore the reality of widespread terrorist threats and amount to “capitulation” rather than genuine statesmanship.

Obasanjo and other opposition leaders, including ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidates, had in recent weeks criticised the rising attacks in the country and faulted the Federal Government’s non-kinetic approach.

Speaking at a Jos, Plateau State event on Friday, Obasanjo expressed displeasure over rising insecurity, saying Nigerians have the right to seek foreign intervention to cover what he described as the government’s failure to protect its citizens.

“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.

“We are part of the world community. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us,” he said.

Reacting, Dare described the ex-president’s comments as “hypocritical and ignoble,” stating they ignored historical realities and insisting that Boko Haram incubated and grew under Obasanjo’s civilian administration.

“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,” the statement reads in part.

“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.

“What began as a preventable extremist sect transformed into a violent insurgency, a cross-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,” Dare added.

The presidential aide stressed that Tinubu is confronting a multifaceted terrorist threat through a combination of military pressure, intelligence-led operations, governance restoration in contested areas, and community and counter-radicalisation programmes.

Dare added that undermining the government’s capacity could embolden terrorists.

“When former leaders disparage the nation’s capacity, they hand psychological victories to the very terrorists murdering, kidnapping, and extorting Nigerians.

“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 on many fronts: economic turnaround, providing security, and building key infrastructure,” he added.

The aide called on all Nigerians to support the administration’s security strategies.

“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,” Dare said.(Punch)