By OBSERVERS TIMES
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has commended Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for his recent assertion that Boko Haram has informants and collaborators within Nigeria’s political class and armed forces. Obi described Zulum’s revelation as a “devastating indictment” of the Nigerian state, emphasizing that any silence or inaction on such explosive claims would be tantamount to complicity.
In a statement released on Thursday, Obi highlighted that the alleged presence of terrorist sympathizers at the highest levels of governance and security, if confirmed, validates long-held fears among many Nigerians.
“Governor Babagana Zulum’s recent outcry that Boko Haram informants and terrorists exist among our politicians and within our armed forces is a damning indictment of the state of our nation,” Obi stated, calling it “shocking” and “devastating.”
He stressed that Nigeria is not only facing external attacks from insurgents but also internal betrayal by those entrusted with its protection. “If true, it confirms that our country is bleeding not only from external attacks but from betrayal at the highest levels,” Obi affirmed.
Obi called for immediate and decisive action, insisting that individuals, regardless of their position, who collaborate with terrorists must be held accountable. “Anyone who aids, abets, protects, or collaborates with terrorists, no matter their rank, title, or political office, is a traitor to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he declared. “Such individuals have no place in our institutions and must be identified, exposed, and prosecuted without delay.”
He warned that the fight against terrorism cannot be won while national security is being undermined from within, deeming it not just a failure of intelligence but a “moral collapse.” “We cannot win the war against terrorism while traitors sit in the corridors of power, feeding off the blood of innocent Nigerians,” Obi asserted. “We cannot continue to bury our citizens while those responsible hide behind the veil of politics and impunity.”
The former governor urged the federal government to address Zulum’s revelation with urgency and transparency, stating that mere words are insufficient. “The federal government must treat this revelation with the utmost urgency. Words are not enough. The silence and inaction that often greet such explosive disclosures only serve to embolden the enemies within,” he cautioned. “The Nigerian people demand answers. More importantly, we demand action.”
Obi lauded Governor Zulum for his courage and candor, recognizing him as one of the few voices in power willing to articulate uncomfortable truths. “Governor Zulum has done what few in power dare to do: he has spoken the truth. That truth must not die in the news cycle.
It must be pursued, investigated, and confronted with courage and justice,” Obi said.
He concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria cannot be held hostage by those who are meant to defend it, urging a collective resolve to reclaim the nation. “Nigeria cannot afford to be held hostage by the very people entrusted to defend her,” Obi asserted. “Let us rise to it with courage, with clarity, and with a commitment to reclaim our country from the shadows. A new Nigeria is POssible.”
