Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has sharply criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other prominent government critics for what he described as “ignoble” attempts to undermine the administration’s efforts to combat terrorism.
In a statement titled “Between Tinubu’s Capability and the Ignobility of Pseudo Statesmanship” and shared via his X account on Sunday, Dare condemned recent remarks by Obasanjo and “habitual presidential aspirants”, including Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that the current government has failed to protect its citizens amid rising insecurity.
Obasanjo, speaking at an event in Jos, Plateau State on Friday, expressed deep concern over escalating violence and argued that Nigerians have the right to seek assistance from the international community if the Nigerian government cannot safeguard lives and property.
“No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter your profession, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems incapable of protecting us,” the former president said. “If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot.”
Dare condemned the remarks as “hypocritical and ignoble”, insisting they ignore the historical realities surrounding Nigeria’s security challenges. He argued that Boko Haram’s early growth occurred during Obasanjo’s civilian administration, when the extremist group allegedly formed ideological foundations, recruited members, and established camps.
“The suggestion that Nigeria should subcontract its internal security to foreign governments is not statesmanship; it is capitulation,” Dare said. “Before recommending surrender, the former president should reflect on what he failed to do when these terrorists first began organising under his watch.”
Calling Obasanjo’s comments “reckless”, Dare maintained that early inaction allowed a once-preventable extremist sect to evolve into a violent insurgency aligned with international jihadist movements.
He stressed that the Tinubu administration is confronting a complex terrorist threat using a mixture of military force, intelligence-led operations, governance restoration in affected regions, and counter-radicalisation programmes. Public criticism from former leaders, Dare warned, risks emboldening terrorist groups by projecting national weakness.
“If Obasanjo wishes to help, he should acknowledge past failures and support ongoing efforts,” he added. “Not undermine an administration working across multiple fronts — economic recovery, security, and infrastructure.”
Dare urged Nigerians to support the government’s ongoing security strategy, affirming that President Tinubu remains committed to securing “every inch of Nigeria”. He concluded that the administration “will not be distracted by selective amnesia wrapped in elder-statesmanship, nor allow those who midwifed Nigeria’s early security failures to rewrite history.”