Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under the leadership of Nuhu Ribadu, has mismanaged terrorism and banditry in the North.
El-Rufai said ONSA under Ribadu’s leadership and a “certain senator” have shown incompetence in the management of terrorism and banditry in the North.
He accused ONSA under Ribadu’s leadership of coordinating the payment of ransom to bandits.
Responding, El-Rufai, in a lengthy statement, insisted that ONSA under Ribadu politicised security.
His statement on X reads partly: “This is my response to the unfortunate statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the fake, but predictable hot air from Kaduna, following my live television interview on Channels Television last night.
“As usual, the combined voices of the Government of Kaduna State (KDSG) and ONSA, instead of responding to the core issues I raised, seek to deflect responsibility by alleging that exposing them amounts to politicizing security.
“As a person whose three siblings served in the Nigerian Army and the Airforce, with one of them rising to the rank of general, I have and will continue to appreciate and honor the memory of our citizens in uniform who have made sacrifices for Nigeria. I will also continue to appreciate the immense work that continues to be done by gallant officers of the military and security agencies.
“It is a well-known fact to discerning Nigerians that the face of the politicization of national security for politically intended purposes resides, for the first time in our recent history, in the ONSA under its present leadership.
“If the ONSA thinks Nigerians are not following its unclear and incompetent management of terrorism and banditry in Northern Nigeria and beyond, in collaboration with a certain senator, also from the North, then it is high time it carried out an in-depth evaluation and review of its actions.”
