The Presidency has reacted to Sambo Dasuki’s claim that the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015.
A statement released by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said Jonathan only increased the “monster of terrorism”.
“The truth, as a matter of fact, is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that,” he stated.
Shehu went on to say the claim was “another unfortunate attempt by inglorious Nigerians to rewrite the history of our country in such a way as to cover the sins of the past. We will have to read the entire text to offer a full and adequate response.
“As a public relations goon for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the author did not surprise anyone by dismissing the acclaimed successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against Boko Haram, claiming that this government simply took the glory for the achievements of the previous government in the war against terrorism.”
Shehu said as of the time elections held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in the Northeast were completely under the control of Boko Haram “to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas.
“The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.”
He said since Buhari came into power, many of those residents had returned to their homes “and Boko Haram eradicated from their areas. In many of these areas, institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being re-established.
“Despite Mr. Dasuki’s attempt to rewrite history, Nigerians could not have forgotten the embarrassing stories of failed weapons that plagued our country’s military during the previous administration, when unserviceable weapons, expired ammunition and fake armored vehicles caused untold grief to our valiant armed forces on the battlefield, with arms exploding willy nilly and guns failing to fire.
“It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits go scot free.”
