How Obasanjo ended Boko Haram within weeks – Atiku

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said that his principal, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ended the activities of Boko Haram terrorists within a few weeks during their tenure.

Atiku, while speaking in Abuja when a delegation from Kogi State visited him, said Obasanjo, as president gave marching orders to the service chiefs over attacks by insurgents.

In a video seen by Politics Nigeria, Atiku was captured saying that the service chief delivered on the task given to them by the president within a short period.

He said, “You remember when the Boko Haram started in Yobe? It was actually in 2002. We were in office. The president sent for me and said ‘“VP, what do we do about this?”.

According to Atiku, he was the one who suggested that Obasanjo hand the chiefs a deadline on ending the activities of the terror group.

“I said, Mr President, let’s call the Service Chiefs and give them a deadline. If they can’t put it (Boko Haram) down, then they should put down their uniforms and we’d get some other people.

“And he called the Service Chiefs, I was thee, and gave them marching orders, and within a few weeks, they put down the insurgency in Yobe,” Atiku added.

He further noted that after that order by Obasanjo and the prompt action that was taken by the service chiefs, Boko Haram members never dared to attack any part of the country until they left office.

“It never came up again until we left office. So, one, I will say that there is a lack of political will on our leaders,” Atiku said.

He queried how leaders can function when their citizens are been slaughtered daily by insurgents.

“How you can even eat when they are killing your citizens and you don’t give a damn is the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader anywhere,” a seemingly furious Atiku said.