The Nigerian National Police Dog: Once Again
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| Dr. Doyin Okupe |
Senior special assistant to President Goodluck
Jonathan on public affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe has accused former vice president,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of being one of those whose comments ignited the 2011
post-election violence that gave birth to the Boko Haram insurgents.
Okupe, who
stated this on the fourth day and concluding session of the Public Affairs
Forum, organised by his office in Abuja, was reacting to Atiku’s comment at a
press conference in Abuja, in which he said both political leadership and
military leadership were the main reasons the country was facing insecurity.
However,
Okupe noted that it was the likes of Atiku that encouraged some young Nigerians
to take up arms against the state, saying, “I remember very well that before
the 2011 elections, it was people like Atiku Abubakar who said that those who
make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable.
“That was his
statement and that was what prompted some of these young people who have been
brainwashed to take up arms against the state. This government is doing
everything possible to contain insurgency. There is hardly any country that is
not battling with insurgency. It’s a problem that we have and we are facing it
and we will overcome”.
Maintaining
that those saying the Jonathan-led government is clueless need psychiatric
test, Okupe said, “From now on, anybody who says this government is clueless
should be referred to a psychiatrist. We do not disparage former leaders
because they have all done their bit in the development of this country. But I
want to say here that Jonathan’s administration is the most successful since
1960”.
Okupe who
stated that people are merely trying to make mileage of insurgency, described
Atiku as a very “notable member of the Nigerian institution who ought not to
have taken a swipe at the federal government and at the president”.
He said, “You
know, its difficult to comment publicly about people who have held very
important and highly dignified position in our polity but when people go to the
extent of trying to make political gains out of national tragedy, I is
difficult not to say something because this is part of the misinformation which
the Nigerian public has been subjected to.
“Atiku said
that we have problems with leadership both political leadership and military
leadership. For a former Vice President, I believe the comments passed by Atiku
Abubakar, I dont want to use the word irresponsible but I will say its a little
bit out of place. Its not something you expect from an elder statesman,
somebody who has been in the system and who understands how government works.
“I am angry
for good reasons. When you want to be a political leader in the country, you
want to be the president and you take sides with the insurgents and celebrate
their supposed victory and ridicule your own armed forces, a potential
commander in chief of the armed forces making a mockery of the armed forces
that is likely going to inherit, the least you can say for respect sake is to
that that is unpatriotic and it is undignifying, it is very unfortunate, it is
sad.
“We have
capable people who have made name running this economy. people like Aganga,
Okonjo-Iweala and others and people are saying this government is clueless. How
can these capable people be running an economy where the government is
clueless. Is this possible?”.
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