Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) has alleged that influential figures within Nigeria’s political elite are fuelling the resurgence of Boko Haram as part of a wider plot to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Kalu made the claim during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Monday.
According to him, the recent uptick in terrorist activities is not random but politically motivated.
“The political class is behind Boko Haram. They are using terrorism as a tool to fight Tinubu, just like they did with past administrations,” Kalu said.
Pressed to identify those he described as the “political class,” Kalu pointed to a network of politicians, powerful businesspeople, and senior civil servants, alleging they were leveraging insecurity to serve personal ambitions.
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“People in the political class are the ones fuelling Boko Haram. This is a political war. Some of them aren’t after money—they’re after power. They want to tear down the system just to grab control, and that’s not how power should be acquired,” he explained.
He further described the growing insecurity in the country as a calculated effort by those disenchanted with current governance, accusing them of deliberately stoking chaos to gain political leverage.
“The insecurity in Nigeria is politically induced. These individuals—politicians, businessmen, civil servants—are not just seeking financial gain. They’re looking to hijack political power,” Kalu added.
The senator called for unity and patriotism among Nigerians, urging citizens to prioritize national interest over selfish political agendas.
“If we consider ourselves friends and patriots, we should care about the ordinary Nigerian. We must work together to build a better country,” he said.
Kalu’s comments come amid rising concerns over renewed Boko Haram activity. Just a day earlier, nine passengers were reportedly killed in Mairari Village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State after Boko Haram insurgents detonated improvised explosive devices.
Borno Speaker Abdulkarim Lawan condemned the attack, describing it as “inhumane,” and called on the military to intensify efforts to reclaim Guzamala from the grip of insurgents.
Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, expressed serious concern over the resurgence of terrorist attacks in the state, urging for swift action to address the security threat.