NIGERIA: Atiku Reveals How Obasanjo Crushed Boko Haram In Weeks

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigerian Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo swiftly ended Boko Haram’s early threat through firm and decisive leadership.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial District, Atiku recalled that the insurgent group first emerged in Yobe State in 2002 while he was in office.

He said Obasanjo immediately consulted him, and together they took urgent action.

“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?’ 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. We will get some other people,’” Atiku recounted.

According to him, the president followed the advice.

He said “And he called the Service Chiefs, I was there, and gave them marching orders, and within a few weeks, they put down the insurgency in Yobe. It never came up again until we left office.”

Atiku blamed the resurgence of Boko Haram and widespread insecurity on a lack of political will by subsequent leaders.

“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 damn; that is the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader, anywhere,” he said.

The former Vice President, who served from 1999 to 2007 under President Obasanjo, said the response at the time was driven by a sense of urgency and accountability, qualities he believes are lacking today.

Atiku’s comments were captured in a video shared on his official Facebook page.