The Presidency rejects Obasanjo’s suggestion for foreign security aid, affirms Nigeria’s sovereignty, and highlights ongoing national strategies to fight terrorism.
The Presidency has strongly responded to recent remarks attributed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he suggested that Nigeria should seek foreign governments’ assistance to stabilize internal security.
The Presidency described these comments as misleading, unhelpful, and unbecoming of a former leader, noting that Nigeria has the capacity to confront terrorism independently.
In a statement shared on X, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not outsource Nigeria’s national security to any foreign power.
According to the Presidency, the country is confronting “full-spectrum terrorism,” a complex challenge that demands unity, strategy, and decisive action rather than public opinion displays or grandstanding.
The Presidency accused Obasanjo of selective memory, pointing out that the ideological foundations and early operational cells of Boko Haram emerged during his administration.
Extremist camps were allowed to organise, recruit, and consolidate, creating the conditions for the current security threats.
“It is a historical fact that terrorism took root under his watch and expanded because it was not stopped,” the Presidency said.
“Issuing lectures now is not statesmanship; it is a form of capitulation.”
Highlighting the magnitude of the current threat, the Presidency outlined the complex terrorist ecosystem Nigeria faces today.
This includes internationally designated terror groups, ISIS-linked and al-Qaeda-aligned networks across the Sahel, cross-border extremist cells, and local violent groups masquerading as bandits.
These actors often collaborate, sharing intelligence, weapons, logistics, and ideology, all aimed at weakening the Nigerian state and terrorising its citizens.
While acknowledging the value of international cooperation, the Presidency made it clear that Nigeria’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
“Nigeria requires support and collaboration, yes, but outsourcing national security is not an option,” the statement said.
“What is required now is unity, coordination, and collective patriotism.”
According to the Presidency, President Tinubu’s approach to national security is comprehensive.
It combines intelligence-led operations, modernisation of the armed forces, governance restoration in underserved regions, stabilisation of vulnerable communities, and counter-radicalisation initiatives.
“The President is confronting terrorism with practical action, not rhetoric — from reinforcing military operations to reclaiming ungoverned spaces and denying terrorists the human terrain they exploit,” the statement added.
The Presidency also urged former leaders to support current security efforts rather than making comments that could undermine morale.
“Those who failed to act in the past should not attempt to rewrite history today,” it said.
“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria will confront and defeat terrorism, focusing on solutions rather than playing the blame game.”
Furthermore, the Presidency stressed that national security is a collective responsibility that requires participation from citizens, traditional leaders, civil society, and government institutions.
Unity, it said, is crucial to preventing terrorists from exploiting divisions or gaining a psychological advantage.
The Presidency concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty while strategically collaborating with international partners.
It called on all Nigerians, especially past leaders, to rally behind the administration’s comprehensive national security strategy.
“Careless remarks or unconstructive criticism hand terrorists a psychological win. Let all patriots unite to secure our country,” the statement said.
