Former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Martin Onovo, has accused Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), of being directly responsible for the country’s prolonged insecurity crisis.
In a strongly worded statement, Onovo alleged that the federal government’s response to security threats within Nigeria has been inconsistent. He pointed to what he described as the swift reaction to a reported coup attempt in the Benin Republic, contrasting it with what he called a sluggish and ineffective campaign against terrorist groups operating within Nigeria over the past several years.
According to Onovo, it would be unrealistic to expect a ruling party to decisively dismantle criminal networks if, as he claimed, some of its members are linked to those same networks. He referenced a number of public comments and testimonies which, in his view, raise serious concerns about political complicity in violent activities.
Among the remarks he cited was a statement attributed to former President Muhammadu Buhari, suggesting that an attack on Boko Haram amounted to an attack on the North — a comment that has been debated in political circles. Onovo also referred to claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima, during his tenure as Borno State governor, supported the idea of granting amnesty to members of Boko Haram as part of conflict resolution efforts.
The former NCP candidate further cited comments from retired General Theophilus Danjuma, who previously alleged that elements within the armed forces were not neutral in the fight against banditry. He also referenced statements made by retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, who suggested that authorities were aware of individuals involved in sponsoring violent groups.
Onovo additionally mentioned legal proceedings abroad, including a court case in Dubai that reportedly linked Nigerian sponsors of terrorism to high-profile political figures. He also referred to comments attributed to Kawu Baraje, a founding member of the APC, which he claimed pointed to controversial tactics during the 2015 general elections.
Concluding his statement, Onovo argued that the collection of remarks, testimonies, and court developments he cited leaves, in his words, “no reasonable doubt” about what he described as the ruling party’s role in Nigeria’s security challenges.
The APC has not issued a formal response to these specific allegations at the time of reporting.
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