"You’re One Of Those Who Caused Insurgency" - Okupe Fire Shots At Atiku

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. The Leadership reports that Doyin Okupe stated this on the concluding session of the Public Affairs Forum, organised by his office in Abuja.
The special adviser 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. Read his statement below:

“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”.

“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”.

“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?”.