A disagreement has erupted between Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, and Senator Ali Ndume over who deserves credit for defeating Boko Haram.
According to Ahmad, Boko Haram controlled 17 local government areas in Borno State when Buhari took office in 2015.
Taking to X, he explained that as at that time, large parts of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States were inaccessible due to terrorism.
Critical infrastructure, including airports, schools, hospitals, markets, and government facilities, were shut down.
However, by the time Buhari left office in 2023, Ahmad claims that Boko Haram had largely been defeated.
This assertion contradicts Senator Ndume’s statement that former President Goodluck Jonathan deserves credit for decimating the terrorist group.
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s progress in combating terrorism.
While Buhari’s administration claimed significant victories, critics argue that Boko Haram remains a threat.
The disagreement between Ahmad and Ndume underscores the complexities of evaluating the success of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
As the country continues to grapple with security challenges, the legacy of Buhari’s administration remains a topic of discussion.
Nigeria’s struggle against Boko Haram has been lengthy and complex, with various administrations contributing to the fight.
The debate over who deserves credit for the group’s decline highlights the need for accurate assessments of Nigeria’s security progress.
According to Ahmad: “It is hilarious when I read a report in the Daily Trust where Sen. Ali Ndume from Borno attempted to credit former President Jonathan for defeating Boko Haram.
“While history is often one of the easiest things to be rewritten in Nigeria, this particular one will be very difficult to change.
“It’s well-documented that when President Buhari took office in 2015, 17 local government areas in Borno were under full control of the terrorist group.
“Large parts of the state including the Senator’s hometown, with areas in Yobe and Adamawa, were inaccessible even by the security at the time.
“Critical infrastructure like airports, schools, hospitals, markets, and many government facilities were all shut down. By the time President Buhari left office in 2023, Boko Haram had largely been defeated and technically became a thing of the past.”
