I am a Sad Old Man

In an interview with The Sun, The leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to leave a lasting legacy by spearheading constitutional reforms to prevent Nigeria’s breakup. Adebanjo dismissed the idea of Tinubu seeking a second term, attributing the country’s current challenges to past military regimes. In an interview with EMMA NJOKU, he addressed various issues including insecurity, the 2023 elections, corruption in the National Assembly, and Tinubu’s directive to implement the Orosanya report.

Amidst insecurity in the north and accusations of sabotage against Tinubu’s administration, Adebanjo denounced diversionary tactics. Citing revelations from Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (retd), he accused the previous administration of neglecting information on Boko Haram sponsors within government ranks. Adebanjo challenged the government’s failure to act despite having lists of perpetrators, including those in prominent positions.

Adebanjo called for tangible action rather than empty promises, urging Tinubu to match rhetoric with decisive measures against terrorism. He highlighted the government’s knowledge of terrorist financiers and demanded accountability, emphasizing the need for proactive steps to confront insecurity.

He said: “That’s diversionary. Those behind the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of terrorism were known to the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, but they refused to act on it. Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (retd), during a programme on national television, said Buhari commissioned a committee of 20 service chiefs to find out the people behind Boko Haram, and the committee gave him a list of those involved in 2018. That programme was aired last year, 2023, and the presidency has not reacted to the list. The report stated that those financing Boko Haram were in his (Buhari) cabinet. Some of them were part of the sitting governors then, some were in the Senate and House of Representatives. Then. I have always brought this to the front burner; unfortunately the press has not emphasised it. I accused Buhari of connivance with the terrorists and I dared the then Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, to come and challenge me for accusing Buhari of connivance with those terrorising us in Nigeria. The evidence I’m using is the committee’s report disclosed by Commodore Lawunmi. Remember that the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, once announced that they had got the list of 200 people behind Boko Haram insurgents.

Have you seen the list till today? The United Arab Emirates caught and imprisoned some Nigerians and sent their names to the Federal government. Did you know who those people are till today? So President Bola Tinubu should not just tell us that he has given the military a marching order to fetch the terrorists, he should match the order with implementation in the Presidency. Those behind the terrorists are known. Why are they afraid to act? They set up a committee, just deceiving us, when they know the terrorists.

By: Onuigbo Elvis Ifeanyi