The Presidency has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s insecurity, stating that terrorism took root in the country during his time in office. The rebuttal followed Obasanjo’s call for international intervention to address the security challenges facing the nation.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Federal Government, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, said it was important to place history in proper context. He noted that those who presided over the early stages of Nigeria’s security failures should not attempt to shift responsibility to the current administration.
The Presidency pointed out that the Boko Haram insurgency, which later grew into one of the country’s deadliest security threats, began during Obasanjo’s civilian administration. According to the statement, the ideological foundations of the terror group were laid at that time, with early recruitment, indoctrination and organisation taking place without decisive intervention from the authorities.
It added that what Nigeria is facing today is no longer a single security problem but a complex network of terrorism involving international extremist groups, cross border movements, local violent cells and criminal elements exploiting weak borders.
The government stressed that insecurity did not develop overnight and should not be presented as a challenge caused by one administration alone. It urged Nigerians to be guided by facts and history rather than emotional narratives.
The Presidency also called on former leaders to offer constructive support instead of criticism, noting that the Tinubu administration remains committed to strengthening national security through coordinated military action, intelligence sharing and regional cooperation.
