In an interview on Arise News Television on Wednesday, Stan-Labo asserted that ministers and governors with purported links to terrorists were permitted to retain their positions during Buhari’s administration, even those entrusted with national data…CONTINUE READING

He remarked, “I concur with the viewpoint that General Buhari, over the past eight years or so, made minimal contributions to our anti-terrorism efforts. If anything, he exacerbated our challenges in combating terrorism.

“Regrettably, during this period, which I characterized as a time when Nigeria lacked a true political leader, decisions at the political-strategic level, emanating from the presidency and involving ministers associated with terrorists, remained unchanged.

“One individual even held a key role in managing our national data. We allowed undue sentiments to infiltrate our purported plan or actions against terrorism, emanating from the presidency and extending to ministers.”

According to Stan-Labo, under the Buhari administration, “Religious, tribal, and ethnic considerations were apparent.

At the subnational level, certain governors from the North, especially during that administration, maintained dubious relationships with terrorism, some even advocating for amnesty.

“This was startling to some of us. Amnesty for whom? They claim these are repentant terrorists. Repentant from what? We are soldiers; our duty is not to grant repentance but to expedite your journey to God, whether to heaven or hell, where penance will be granted.

“Bringing a significant number of individuals from the forest, armed and previously hostile to fellow Nigerians, and then, upon the arrival of soldiers, they relinquish their weapons.

As professionals, we are obligated to take them prisoners of war, and it is perplexing to label them as repentant.

“Referring to the precedent set during President Yar’Adua’s administration in the creeks, where amnesty was granted, is misguided.”

Regarding President Bola Tinubu’s government, he opined that no substantial changes had occurred compared to the previous administration.

Stan-Labo advised the President not to heed ill advice from those sympathetic to the Buhari administration if he genuinely aims to effectively combat and triumph over terrorism in Nigeria.