Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has held President Bola Tinubu’s administration responsible for the recent resurgence of Boko Haram activities in Nigeria’s North East.
This reaction comes in the wake of reports that Boko Haram insurgents attacked several military installations in Borno State last week, resulting in the deaths of soldiers and the theft of weapons and ammunition.
During a meeting in Abuja with stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial District, led by former Kogi State Deputy Governor Simon Achuba, Atiku criticised the government’s failure to act decisively.
He attributed the renewed wave of terrorism to a lack of strong political resolve, recalling how the insurgent group initially emerged in 2002 in Yobe State while he served as Vice President.
“You remember when the Boko Haram started in Yobe? It was actually in 2002. We were in office.
“The president sent for me. VP, what do we do about this? It started in Yobe, actually. He said, What do we do about this?
“Then I said, Mr. President, let’s call the Service Chiefs and give them a deadline. If they can’t put it down, then they should put down their uniform and go away. Then we get some other people,” Atiku recounted.
He went on to explain that then-President Olusegun Obasanjo heeded his advice and summoned the Service Chiefs. “And he called the Service Chiefs, I was there, and gave them marching orders, and within a few weeks, they put down the insurgency. It never came up again until we left office,” he said.
Atiku expressed frustration at the indifference he perceives from today’s political leadership.
“So, I will say there’s a lack of political will on the leaders. When they’re killing your citizens, how can you even eat?
“They’re killing your citizens and you don’t give a damm, is the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader, anywhere,” he stated.
