A fresh political storm erupted on Sunday after Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, delivered a scathing response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent comments on Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Obasanjo, speaking at an event in Jos on Friday, had accused the Federal Government of failing in its most basic responsibility, protecting citizens and argued that Nigerians have the right to seek international intervention if killings persist. He said the wave of attacks across the country had left communities vulnerable, adding that “our government seems to be incapable of protecting us.”
His remarks drew a sharp rebuttal from Dare, who issued a statement titled “Between Tinubu’s Capability and the Ignobility of Pseudo Statesmanship”. Posting via his X handle, the presidential aide accused Obasanjo and what he called “habitual presidential aspirants” of making comments that undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
According to Dare, such criticisms amount to surrender and disregard the complex nature of the threats facing Nigeria. He said it was “hypocritical and ignoble” for Obasanjo to demand foreign intervention when, according to him, the extremist movement that later became Boko Haram began taking shape during Obasanjo’s civilian presidency.
“It is a historical fact that the ideological foundations and early cells of Boko Haram were incubated during Obasanjo’s presidency,” Dare stated. “They recruited openly, built camps, indoctrinated followers and tested the limits of state authority. Yet the government failed to act decisively.”
He argued that what could have been a containable extremist sect eventually evolved into a violent insurgency and international terror franchise, partly because early opportunities to quash it were missed.
“For the leader under whom the first seeds of terrorism were allowed to germinate to now issue public lectures is not just ironic, it is reckless,” he added.
Dare defended President Tinubu’s security strategy, insisting that the administration is tackling terrorism through sustained military pressure, intelligence-driven missions, community engagement, and deradicalisation initiatives. He warned that public comments questioning the government’s ability could embolden violent groups.
“When former leaders disparage the nation’s capacity, they hand psychological victories to the terrorists kidnapping and killing Nigerians,” Dare said. “If Obasanjo wishes to help, he should acknowledge past failures and support ongoing efforts, not undermine them.”
He urged citizens to close ranks behind the government’s approach, saying Tinubu remains committed to securing “every inch of the country” through a whole-of-government strategy.
“This administration will not be distracted by selective amnesia wrapped in elder-statesmanship,” Dare concluded. “Nor will it allow those who midwifed Nigeria’s early security failures to rewrite history.”
