Nigerian government stops short of accusing Atiku of sponsoring and benefiting from Boko Haram

Doyin Okupe stops short of accusing Atiku of sponsoring and benefiting from Boko Haram

The Nigerian government has stopped short of naming former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a sponsor and beneficiary of the atrocities of Boko Haram. This is coming at the heels of Atiku's recent criticism of Nigeria's government's efforts at combating Boko Haram terrorism in the country. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs,
Dr. Doyin Okupe, condemned Atiku Abubakar for his comments, on insecurity in the North-East. Okupe noted that some past utterances of Atiku "contributed to the escalation of insurgency in the North". Obviously referring to Atiku's infamous statement that “those who make peaceful change impossible will make violent change inevitable” at the Northern Stakeholders Forum in 2010.

Speaking on the last day of PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM, a programme organised by his office to enable ministers give an account of stewardship to members of Civil Society Organisations, professional groups and artisans in Abuja, Okupe said the former Atiku was not known to have taken any hard position on terrorists and terrorism in the past and shouldn’t expect to gain any political mileage from the unfortunate killings and kidnappings in some parts of the North by presenting himself as being on the side of the victims of insurgency.

Okupe said it was unfortunate that those who desperately stoked the fire of insurgency are now laying the blame on the shoulders of a government that is working hard to put out the fire.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President, it is a mark of unpatriotism for Atiku to talk down on the military which he hopes to lead if elected President of the Federal Republic.

He advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant to learn from political leaders in other climes who drop the toga of partisanship in moments of national crisis by supporting their government to raise the hope of citizens and defeat enemies of civilisation.

Okupe said that President Goodluck Jonathan will not be distracted by negative comments from Atiku and a few others whose only concern is politics rather than nation building but he (Jonathan) will continue to work assiduously with security chiefs and community stakeholders to restore peace to Northern Nigeria in the shortest possible time.

“You know, it is difficult to comment publicly about people, who have held very important and highly dignified positions in our polity, but when people go to the extent of trying to make political gains out of national tragedy, it is difficult not to say something because this is part of the misinformation, which the Nigerian public has been subjected to.

“Atiku said we have problems with leadership both political leadership and military leadership. For a former vice president, I believe, the comments passed by Atiku Abubakar, I don’t want to use the word, ‘irresponsible’, but I will say it is a little bit out of place.

“It is not something you expect from an elder statesman, somebody, who has been in the system and who understands how government works.

“I am angry for good reasons. When you want to be a political leader in the country, you want to be the president and you take sides with the insurgents and celebrate their supposed victory and ridicule your own Armed Forces, a potential commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces making a mockery of the Armed Forces that he is likely going to inherit, the least you can say for respect sake, is that it is unpatriotic and not dignifying; it is very unfortunate, it is sad.”