Gen. Azazi
The
contribution of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the
escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency was exposed yesterday by an
unlikely source.
The
National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Owoeye Azazi, said the party’s
brand of politics, especially the way it picks its candidates for
elections, is partly responsible for the menace now being visited on
Nigeria and Nigerians by the Islamic sect.
“A
situation where a political party insists on fielding a particular
candidate over another to get a massive win, and that if they get that
massive win the party has arrived, is the source of the problem,” Azazi
said at the second South-South Economic Summit in Asaba.
Azazi,
who himself has been widely criticised for the inability of the
security agencies to put Boko Haram in check, added: ”How come the
extent of violence did not increase in Nigeria until the public
declaration of the people that were going to contest election by the
PDP? And I would also like to say this, though the PDP people will not
agree with me, they would like to attack me, but I hope they do it in
private: PDP got it wrong from the beginning by saying Mr A can go and
Mr B cannot go, and these decisions were made without looking at the
constitution.
“Is
it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win and
that if he could not win, there would be problems in this society?
“Let’s
examine all those issues to see whether the level of violence in the
North East just escalated because Boko Haram suddenly became better
trained, better equipped and better funded or something else was
responsible.
“And
in any case, how did they get it all done? It takes very long for
somebody to be a sniper. But I can assure you that Boko Haram can garner
that level of sophistication over time, if it has not got it already.
“There
are a lot we know that they are doing and there are a lot that could be
done to address the problem. But then, I must also be quick to point
out that today, even if all the leaders that we know in Boko Haram are
arrested, I don’t think the problem would end, because there are
tentacles.
“I
don’t think that people would be satisfied because the situation that
created the problems are not just about the religion, poverty or the
desire to rule Nigeria. “I think it’s a combination of everything.
“Except you address all those things comprehensively, it would not work.
“It
is not enough for us to have a problem in 2009 and you send soldiers to
stop the situation, then tomorrow you drive everybody underground.
“You must look at what structures you need to put in place to address the problem holistically.
“There are economic problems in the North, which are not the exclusive prerogative of Northerners.
“We must solve our problems as a country.”
“Some
people were wearing white garments 22 years ago and calling themselves
Republic of Afghanistan in the north, and some people said they were
only keeping to their religion and that there was nothing wrong.
“We
try to play the ostrich and think things will blow over. I believe we
should stop the politicisation of security issues in Nigeria.
“I
believe there is a strong element of politicisation of the crisis, where
some people were assured that they would win 80 per cent and they did
not win.
‘’Is
it not amazing that after the elections, the Boko Haram (sect) became
better trained, better armed and better funded? But I can assure you
that Boko Haram could not have that kind of sophistication without a
backing.
“Today,
if you arrest all the leaders of Boko Haram, I don’t think the problem
will end, because the situation that created the sect has not been
tackled e.g poverty and the desire (of some people) to rule Nigeria.
These issues cannot be isolated unless they are handled
comprehensively.”
Azazi
said the present security challenge in the country was getting
complicated on account of the 2015 election with different interest
groups desperate to have it their way.
He called for economic empowerment and enlightenment of the masses with a view to checking poverty and crimes.
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