Lai: If Not For Buhari, Terrorists Would Have Declared Islamic State In Nigeria

The Federal Government on Wednesday faulted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and other critics who said President Muhammadu Buhari has nothing to offer again in office.

It described the alleged skewed narrative in certain quarters that the President has not shown enough empathy on security challenges in the country as glib talk.

The government warned Nigerians against the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders of all hues, which can overheat the polity and heighten tension.

It said with a recent court declaration, bandits have been declared as terrorists.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja against the backdrop of increasing banditry and kidnappings in the country.

Ex-President Obasanjo had on Monday claimed that President Buhari has nothing more to offer the nation.

He said the nation should start looking beyond the tenure of Buhari by shopping for a new leader in 2023.

But Mohammed said the assessment of the President by Obasanjo and others was wrong because Buhari was offering the nation his best.

The Minister said: “If anybody is worried today about the security situation of the country, it is Mr. President.

“Gentlemen, President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country.

“Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.

“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr. President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his administration but long after he would have left office.”

Mohammed assured Nigerians that Buhari will leave the nation better with sustainable achievements.

He added: “President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural

development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria.

“This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.

“Despite all this, President Buhari has not relented, constantly presiding over meetings of security chiefs to get an update and also

issue necessary directives, and not missing any opportunity to offer succour to his countrymen and women, when necessary.

“The skewed narrative in certain quarters that the President has not shown enough empathy is glib talk.

“The President has also continued to work with our neighbouring countries and indeed our Western partners to tackle insecurity, especially terrorism.

“With the entire Sahelian region experiencing a devastating surge in terrorist attacks, more so in the wake of the Libyan crisis, it has become even more imperative for Nigeria to step up regional cooperation to more effectively tackle insecurity – and that is what Mr. President has been doing.”

Asked why the Federal Government’s position on the status of bandits, Mohammed said:” I think the AGF went to court and got a declaration. As far as the law is concerned today, bandits are terrorists. But it is not me or you that will say that they are terrorists, the court has made a declaration.

Regarding the gazette on the court declaration, the Minister said: “There is a process for everything, we should be patient. The Attorney-General of the Federation won’t go to court for nothing. For the AGF to go to court, it is the biggest step to declare bandits as terrorists.”