Presidency to Obasanjo: Nigeria will not outsource its security

…Assures that Tinubu will end terrorism

… Engagements on with partners to end terrorism

…Tinubu will adopt kinetic and non- kinetic approach

Presidency on Sunday said the country has the capacity to face and defeat the current attacks by terrorists, through partnerships with interested international institution, but will not outsource its security.

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Information stated this in the presidency’s response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Recall that former President Obasanjo had criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the slow response to the activities of terrorists and kidnappers, ravaging the country.

Obasanjo also expressed his support for foreign intervention, should be Tinubu government failed to put an end to banditry in the country.

But Dare, in his response, said ” Nigeria will cooperate internationally, but it will not outsource its security or raise a white flag because someone who once had the chance lost his nerve”.

Presidency, while acknowledging that Nigeria needs the support and understanding of the global community, including the United States, said the country is already engaging with them to help end terrorism.

Presidency said it is also working in collaboration with other allied nations, adding that ” the crime at hand is transnational. Every ungoverned space must come under scrutiny”.

According to him” When former leaders disparage the nation’s capacity, they hand psychological victories to the very terrorists murdering, kidnapping and extorting and terrorising Nigerians in plain language.

“A real statesman offers support, not soundbites.

He challenged former President Obasanjo to first acknowledge his “past failures that allowed terrorists to gain a foothold, and then support ongoing efforts, not undermine them”, if he really wants to help.

” Let him put his position and connections at Nigeria’s disposal like he has done for other Countries. Not seek to put down an administration that is fully engaging in many fronts : Economic Turnaround, Providing Security and Building key Infrastructure.”

Presidency assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to securing every inch of Nigeria by confronting terrorists with strength, unity, and a whole-of-government strategy. Let all patriots join hands now and not raise alarms.

“This administration will not be distracted by selective amnesia wrapped in elder-statesmanship, nor will it allow those who midwifed Nigeria’s early security failures to rewrite history.”

The Presidency decried some comments made by the former President, describing such comments as ” not merely hypocritical but ignoble.”

He said “Nigeria is facing terrorists. All of them. By every definition, be they international, regional, or local.”

Dare stated that” The suggestion that Nigeria should effectively subcontract its internal security to foreign governments is not statesmanship; it is capitulation.”

“President Tinubu is not facing a conventional security challenge. He is confronting terrorism in full-spectrum form, both internal and trans-national. His strategy is clear:

” Before recommending surrender, the former President should reflect on what he failed to do when these terrorists first began organizing under his watch.’ he said.

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