…Says Dasuki’s false claims should be ignored
The Presidency on Monday denied the claims by former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, which maintained that the Goodluck Jonathan administration cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the remark was untrue and should be dismissed.
According to him, the claim was another attempt to rewrite the history of Nigeria.
He said “The superlative claims by the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki that the Goodluck Jonathan administration cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015 is untrue and should be dismissed as an attempt to deceive Nigerians with blatant lies.
“The claim as contained in a new book by a journalist is just another unfortunate attempt by inglorious Nigerians to rewrite the history of our country in such a way as to cover the sins of the past.
“We will have to read the entire text to offer a full and adequate response.
“As a public relations goon for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the author did not surprise anyone by dismissing the acclaimed successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against Boko Haram, claiming that this government simply took the glory for the achievements of the previous government in the war against terrorism.
“For those interested in the facts, as at the time elections were held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in northeast Nigeria were completely under the control of Boko Haram–to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas. The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.” he
He explained that many residents of the North East have returned to their homes as Boko Haram was eradicated from their areas since the Buhari administration came into power.
According to him, institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being reestablished in many of the areas.
He said that despite Mr. Dasuki’s attempt to rewrite history; Nigerians could not have forgotten the embarrassing stories of failed weapons that plagued Nigeria’s military during the previous administration.
He also pointed out that under the previous administration, there were cases of unserviceable weapons, expired ammunition and fake armored vehicles, which caused untold grief to valiant armed forces on the battlefield, with arms exploding Willy nilly and guns failing to fire.
“It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the 2.1 billion Dollars arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits goes scot free.
“The truth, as a matter of fact is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that,” he stated.
