Photo: Chief Martin Onovo, NCP, Presidential Candidate 2015
By: Daniel Kanu
Editor
Chief Martin Onovo, former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is directly responsible for insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview with Nigeria News Mark, Onovo argued that it would be “naïve” for Nigerians, including journalists and editors, to expect the ruling party to effectively combat terrorism, claiming that APC is the “core sponsor” of insecurity in the country.
According to the activist, “the evidence that the ruling party is the direct sponsor of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria is overwhelming and beyond reasonable doubt.”
Onovo cited several past statements and developments as proof of his claim.
He referenced a statement attributed to former Late President Muhammadu Buhari, in which he reportedly said that “an attack against Boko Haram is an attack against the North.”
He also mentioned remarks credited to Vice President Kashim Shettima, who allegedly proposed amnesty for Boko Haram members during his tenure as governor of Borno State.
The former NCP candidate further referred to comments by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who at a time accused Shettima of being the founder of Boko Haram.
He also cited the reported arrest of a Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, at the Borno State Lodge, which he linked to Shettima’s administration.
Onovo drew attention to remarks by former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, who once alleged that the armed forces were not neutral and were colluding with armed bandits.
He also referenced a statement attributed to Major General Uba of NAOWA, claiming that “the life of a bandit is worth more than the life of a soldier.”
He added that a retired naval officer, Commodore Kunle Olawunmi of Defence Intelligence, had publicly stated that the government was aware of the identities of terrorist actors but had failed to act decisively.
Onovo, a Petroleum Engineer by training further questioned what he described as a disparity in response time, alleging that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was able to swiftly bomb a coup plotters’ camp in the Benin Republic within one day, yet had failed to significantly degrade terrorist camps within Nigeria over several months.
He also cited allegations made against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over purported payments to bandits, as well as reports of convictions in a Dubai court involving individuals accused of sponsoring terrorism, which he claimed were linked to top officials of the ruling party.
In what he described as his “most conclusive evidence,” Onovo pointed to an alleged confession by Abubakar Kawu Baraje, whom he identified as a key figure in the coalition that formed the APC, claiming that “we imported Fulani terrorists for the 2015 elections.”
Onovo maintained that, taken together, these incidents and statements demonstrate that the ruling party is directly sponsoring insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria.
The APC has not officially responded to Onovo’s latest allegations as of the time of filing this report.
