Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has laid the blame for Nigeria’s protracted Boko Haram insurgency on the lack of political will demonstrated by presidents who came after Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, said the extremist group could have been permanently dismantled had Nigeria’s subsequent leaders shown the same decisive leadership as Obasanjo’s administration.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a meeting with stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial District, led by former Kogi State Deputy Governor Simon Achuba, Atiku recalled how the early roots of Boko Haram were swiftly uprooted in 2002. According to him, the terrorist group first emerged in Yobe State during the early years of the Fourth Republic, but was quickly subdued following a strong directive from then-President Obasanjo.
“You remember when the Boko Haram started in Yobe? It was actually in 2002. We were in the 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 in a video shared via his Facebook page.
According to Atiku, Obasanjo promptly summoned the Service Chiefs, issued firm marching orders, and within weeks, the insurgency in Yobe was completely neutralized. “It never came up again until we left office,” he said.
Atiku did not mince words in condemning the actions — or inaction — of successive administrations, accusing them of enabling the resurgence and spread of Boko Haram due to weak political resolve.
“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 stated.
Atiku’s remarks appear to criticize administrations from the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, whose tenure was marked by years of insurgent attacks in the Northeast, mass abductions, and significant military expenditure.
Despite billions spent on counterinsurgency operations, Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to pose threats to national security, especially in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. Thousands of lives have been lost, and millions have been displaced due to the conflict.
Atiku’s criticism aligns with long-standing concerns among security analysts and citizens that poor intelligence coordination, corruption, and a lack of proactive leadership have hampered the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. He argued that decisive leadership remains crucial for addressing insecurity, not only in the Northeast but across the country.
“I hold our leadership responsible for all the insecurity that is going on all over the place,” Atiku emphasized.
Atiku’s comments also come at a time when insecurity remains a top concern for Nigerians. From banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and North Central to separatist violence in the Southeast, many Nigerians feel that the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu must act more decisively to restore public confidence and national safety.
This latest statement also carries significant political undertone. Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has continued to position himself as a strong opposition voice. His comments may be viewed as part of broader efforts to hold the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable, particularly in light of continued criticisms of the government’s handling of national security and economic instability.
Observers say Atiku’s attempt to distinguish the Obasanjo era from subsequent governments could serve to remind Nigerians of the relative calm of the early 2000s, despite mounting political and economic challenges at the time.
As Nigeria continues to confront terrorism, insecurity, and socio-economic instability, the call for stronger leadership, accountability, and institutional reform grows louder. Atiku’s statement adds to a chorus of voices demanding that Nigerian leaders demonstrate courage, competence, and compassion in protecting the lives of citizens.
With the federal government’s renewed commitment to national security under President Tinubu, time will tell whether lessons from the past — such as the early actions taken in 2002 — will inform a more effective and sustainable approach to peace and stability.