The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of abrasive fixation on terror threats rather than commending the Nigerian military’s quick gains in the ongoing war on terror.
It described the former vice president’s detached and unconcerned attitude toward several military operational successes to score cheap political points as worrisome and unpatriotic.
In a statement by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, the group said that such an unpatriotic stance was writ large in his media team’s recent long statement on the unfortunate abduction of teachers in Oyo state.
The statement read in full: “We have noticed how opposition politicians who always hide their faces when Nigeria’s military are doing exploits have suddenly emerged to take verbal pot shots at President Bola Tinubu in the aftermath of the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo state.
“These are people who pretended to be unaware of what the administration had been doing individually and in conjunction with the international community to make the country more secure and safer.
“For instance, a few days ago the United States and Nigeria announced a successful military operation in the Lake Chad area against the world’s second-in-command of the terror group, Islamic State, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki who was described as the most active terrorist in the world, neither former Vice President Atiku Abubakar nor former Anambra governor Peter Obi acknowledged the success of the troops.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Al-Minuki’s elimination attracted a global acclaim similar to the one that trailed the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the then-leader and self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State in 2019 but it meant nothing to those who apparently take delight in literally marching on the blood of innocent Nigerians.
“The world has since been told how Al-Minuki played a central role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and planning attacks targeting Nigerians and innocent civilians around the world.
“It is also now public knowledge that other terrorist figures eliminated included Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP senior leader responsible for coordinating attacks and distributing propaganda, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, ISWAP senior member and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, ISWAP senior media production team manager and close confidant to al-Minuki
“We are also aware of a follow-up ground and air assault by the joint US-Nigeria special operation team on ISIS targets in another part of North East Nigeria which led to the death of multiple terrorists.
”Unfortunately, the do-nothing duo of Atiku and Obi who regularly posture as moral compass acted as if nothing happened.
“Which is why we are disappointed that both Atiku and Obi chose a terror attack on a sleepy community in Oyo state to whip up unnecessary sentiments against the government, a few hours after major wins in the war against insecurity.
“We wonder how a President who had been courting the international community to the extent of authorising joint military operations against terrorists could be described in such unflattering terms if not for politics.
“It is increasingly obvious that these opposition figures are only interested in elevating what they think would boost their political quest without any thought for officers and men of the security agencies who have been putting their lives on the line for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“This is exactly why the former Vice President would allude to what he calls “continued bloodshed” and “breakdown of security” as well as things he could score cheap political points with, and ignore recent successful airstrikes on terrorist locations even before the recent joint kinetic operations by US and Nigerian troops.
“Hardly has he gone out of his way to commend the gallantry, bravery and sacrifices of security operatives at the frontlines but he is known to have, at least on one occasion, rushed to condemn the military over a false claim of an airstrike on civilians in Jilli, a community on the Borno-Yobe border when the armed forces insisted that it was precision, intelligence-led operation on a terrorist stronghold.
“We dare say that if President Tinubu is indeed unconcerned about the security and welfare of Nigerians, he would not be open to the deployment of American intelligence and other military assets which have been significantly useful.
“It is also a statement of fact that the President has also been championing the introduction of state police to ensure a more responsive and community-driven policing in rural communities like the Oyo state community where the recent abduction took place.”
The group advised the former Vice President to ensure his public speech and conduct reflect the exalted No. 2 highest political office he once occupied in the country. Otherwise, failing to weigh his status against his occasional cheap relapse to playing politics with terrorism and insecurity is a sure route to the Hall of Infamy.
