The Federal Government has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of contributing to the early spread of terrorism in Nigeria by failing to confront extremist groups during his tenure.
Sunday Dare, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, made the assertion in a detailed post on X, criticising Obasanjo and other perennial presidential aspirants for suggesting that the current administration is incapable of protecting Nigerians.
Dare stated, “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, and a regional menace aligned with global jihadist movements.”
He described it as both ironic and reckless for a former leader under whose administration the initial failures occurred to now publicly critique the government on security matters. Dare emphasised that the early lapses in confronting terrorism under Obasanjo’s administration contributed significantly to the threats Nigeria faces today.
