Abubakar Tsav, former
commissioner of police in Lagos state, has faulted ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo’s comment on the security situation in the country.
During a press conference on
Sunday, Obasanjo had said the security situation deteriorated under the
Muhammdu Buhari-led government.
Reacting in a letter, Tsav said
Obasanjo goofed on his submission.
The elder statesman said he was
shocked that Obasanjo who “laid the foundation for all the problems” bedeviling
Nigeria is now criticising Buhari.
Below is the letter:
Let me use this opportunity to
wish you and your family a happy, blissful and prosperous New Year, as we pray
for God’s guidance and wisdom in the leadership of Nigeria.
I have taken pains as an elder to
peruse and deeply reflect on the contents of your recent epistle/address to
Nigerians. I strongly feel like most other elders of our great nation that as a
Senior Citizen, there is need to reply you by shedding light on some of your
attempts to twist facts and the carefully rehearsed tales, least you mislead
the younger generation.
First, I must say, I am not
impressed with the tone, discourteous and indecorous language of your letter.
Even if you are genuinely aggrieved or seek for a better Nigeria as you feign
in this open letter, an elder statesman of your status should be more mature in
conveying his anger.
Casting unproved aspersions on
public institutions is in itself a weapon of anarchy for the youths who are
reading/listening to you. We have a moral and religious duty to mentor our
children in a manner that would enable them grow up as responsible citizens and
leaders.
What better Nigeria do you seek
when you fabricate lies and de-market other leaders from a partisan
perspective; delivered in a very uncouth language to youths who would tomorrow
assume leadership of this great nation?
Sir, your letter has touched on a
number of national issues, which are basically centered on the next general
elections, especially the Presidential ballot of February 16, 2019. I take
serious exception to the falsehood and mendacities peddled by its contents and
the unfounded phobia of your presumed rigging of the next general elections.
However, while these issues have
been unconvincingly interrogated by you and at some instances, you dispensed
yourself more as seeking for personal vengeance than fighting an altruistic
national cause; I like to comment on the issue of security and Boko Haram
insurgency to be specific.
Let me quickly remind you that
whatever perceived loopholes in the administration of Nigeria today had the
foundation solidly laid by your government for eight years. It does not make
sense for a leader to create a problem and then query another leader for
failing to solve it to his taste.
The political infractions as
experienced in our democracy today, which you complain loudly were hatched and
nurtured by you. The PDP government you headed raised an army of killers, by
arming youths and brigands, who gleefully embarked on assassinations or
elimination of political rivals.
This culture survived all the
years PDP held power and President Muhammadu Buhari’s redemption government is
cleaning up the rot or the mess accumulated for 16 years in the midst of
distractive obstructions.
It’s unfortunate that indignation
has blinded you from noticing the difference. But Nigerians who saw yesterday
and are survivors today have seen the positive and remarkable difference, which
your malicious letter fruitlessly seeks to diminish.
When I look at what Boko Haram
became in Nigeria, the torments; the atrocities or heinous crimes it committed
on Nigerians for more than a decade, I feel Nigerians deserve a public apology
from you.
It is strange that while you have
not convinced yourself to tender a public apology to Nigerians, it smacks of
public mockery and assault on our collective sensibilities for you to castigate
President Buhari by baselessly plotting to vacate the gains the country has
achieved in battling insurgency under his administration.
If you have forgotten, let me
remind you that Boko Haram started in 2002 as a small sect of political thugs
imported into Nigeria/Borno state from Niger and Chad republics for the
reelection project of the then Governor of Borno state.
The band of political thugs who
morphed into Boko Haram and led by Mohammed Yusuf felt aggrieved that they were
used and dumped after the governorship reelection victory in 2003. And with
arms in their possession they initially started as armed robbers and were
emboldened by the successes of their exploits and then metamorphosed into Boko
Haram.
Sir, the government you led had
the opportunity to crush this emergent and fanatical religious sect, but you
ignored it. Under your watch, you allowed Boko Haram gain strength and gathered
enough momentum to spread its atrocious tentacles in killings, bombings,
abductions and destruction of public and private properties in Nigeria. There
was no apparent reason to abdicate this sacred security responsibility to the
nation. Have you ever reflected on this?
Had you discharged your
sacrosanct constitutional obligation of securing lives and property of
Nigerians, Boko Haram would have been extinguished at its embryonic stage; it
would not have blossomed and President Buhari would not have met it as a major
security threat to Nigeria by 2015.
A leader with such records on
this scandalous security problem has no moral standing or locus standi to
openly disparage the rewarding efforts in curbing Boko Haram under the Buhari
Presidency. If it is not malicious persecution, I remember that in your open
epistle to President Buhari last year, you commended the President for his
efforts in fighting corruption and Boko Haram in the country.
Why the sudden reversal? Could it
be genuine confusion or malice or hatred wrapped as national activism or
patriotism? To describe insecurity situation in Nigeria today by you,
especially Boko Haram as deteriorating is absurd and most uncharitable.
I want to believe your memory has
failed you on the precarious security situation and progression of Boko Haram
in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast before the Buhari Presidency.
Permit me to refresh your memory.
When President Buhari took over the reins of power in May 2015, Boko Haram
insurgency had engulfed almost the entire Northern part of Nigeria. The
Northeast was under the raging fires of insurgency, with Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states most affected. It reigned supreme and started inroads into Southern
Nigeria. But Buhari has halted it.
Also, please recall that
insurgents had forcefully annexed and occupied 20 local government areas in
Borno state alone, in which they deposed Emirs and foisted the flags of their
“Islamic Caliphate,” as insignia of their administrative control unchallenged.
Terrorists also had partial control of seven other LGAs in Yobe and Adamawa
states. President Buhari has reclaimed all the captured territories of Nigeria.
Insurgents frequent attacks and
raids of security formations, villages or communities caused desertion of
ancestral abodes by natives, leading to gruesome killings, abductions,
destruction and displacement of people. IDPs camps in the Northeast were filled
to the brim with displaced persons. With President Buhari’s decimation and
defeat of Boko Haram, the situation today is not as grim as it was yesterday.
Most IDPs have gone back to their
villages, the devastated Northeast is being rebuilt; over 16, 000 Nigerians
held hostage by terrorists have been rescued by the Nigerian Army. And life has
gradually returned to abandoned enclaves. No leader honest with himself would
claim the security situation on Boko Haram in this region is deteriorating.
I agree with you that the Islamic
State’s West African Province (ISWAP) has teamed up with Boko Haram. It is the
reason for the resurgence of terrorism in the region in the last two months.
But to rubbish every other efforts in this regard or refuse to see the change
is unpatriotic and self-serving.
And to falsely claim the Nigerian
government is empowering insurgents by payment of ransoms is equal to
countering yourself, hence you had admitted this same address that ISWAP
pairing with insurgents is responsible for the current upsurge, which is being
handled.
I am baffled that as a retired
Army General and former Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces you feel
satisfied to say the Buhari government has reached the “end of its wit even in
handling all security issues , but particularly Boko Haram issue.” But three
successive Presidents of Nigeria including you combined could not post the
results the Buhari Presidency has displayed on the winning streaks against
insurgency.
We all seek to have a peaceful,
secured and progressive nation. But to deliberately undermine or rundown an
incumbent leader because of our personal grudges is unrealistic, selfish and
callous.
I strongly feel President Buhari
deserves encouragement to break new grounds on the resurged Boko Haram
insurgents and not vilification. In same manner, the COAS, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai
and the troops in the trenches deserve kind words of endearments’ from leaders
like you for the great sacrifices they are making on our behest.
To understand that this poor
outing is emanating from an elder statesman of your caliber is not good account
of yourself and Nigeria, a country you once led. You cannot be wrong and right
at the same time.
It is better to reassess your
public outings, especially on the excitement of -writing open letters because I
sense these epistles in which you end up countering yourself most times have
outlived their usefulness’.
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