A senior citizen and former Editor-in-Chief of the defunct Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) Chief Tola Adeniyi, has said that the current insecurity situation backed by terrorism and banditry did not emerge by coincidence, but was primarily linked to political actions and power struggles that took place before the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in 2015.
Chief Adeniyi, who was also former Managing Director of the Nigerian Tribune, said that some leaders of the APC had publicly admitted to inviting armed groups into the country as part of efforts to weaken the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
His statement has expectedly sparked fresh controversy on the matter as he also accused some prominent leaders of the APC of playing a role in the emergence and growth of banditry in Nigeria.
Adeniyi, stated these when he featured on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, spoke extensively about the country’s worsening insecurity and political history.
In his words; “All the leaders of the APC, all their prominent leaders said publicly that they invited bandits into this country to drive away former president Goodluck Jonathan”. Adeniyi also claimed that the activities of armed groups operating across parts of Nigeria today were allegedly strengthened and encouraged by political interests.
According to him; “So the bandits we have, by their own ambition, were created, enhanced and influenced by the APC”.
He specifically criticised comments previously made by some political figures advocating reconciliation with repentant bandits, stressing that such positions raised concerns about the relationship between politicians and armed groups.
Adeniyi further said; “That is why some APC leaders or their agents will say bandits are our brothers; when they repent, we will re-absorb them”.
While referencing the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, Adeniyi opined that the scale of the incident suggested possible internal collaboration, saying that Nigerians were told that when bandits needed women, they went to Chibok and they were given 360 girls.
Adeniyi said; “There was no way 360 girls would be taken away from anywhere on earth without government involvement. It’s not possible”.
While referencing a statement usually attributed to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, suggesting that prolonged insurgencies usually indicate some level of government complicity, Adeniyi noted that there was nothing to add than to believe.
