Former minister of defence, Rabiu Kwankwaso has said that the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, of which he was a part of, left behind a military that was capable, disciplined and ever ready to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Kwankwaso said he is very much shocked and surprised over what is happening in the country and for the fact that it is happening not too far away from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Kwankwaso, who spoke in an interview with Channels Television, believes the military’s incapability is a reflection of leadership failure on the part of the current administration.
“It is very unfortunate that all of us in this country have to find ourselves in this problem. The issue of security, not only in Nigeria but all over the world is key,” the former Governor of Kano State said.
“And that is why our constitution and every other constitutions that I know put a lot of emphasis on the issue of security of lives and property.
“I’m so happy that I have the opportunity to become the minister of defence during the second tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and in that office I had the opportunity to work together with the military. I believe that we left a military that was capable and disciplined and ever ready to defend the territorial integrity of this country.
“I had the opportunity to visit them all over the world, especially here in Africa …and other parts of the world where they have reasons to be there for operations and they did it successfully and they all returned back. Now what we are seeing today, in my opinion, is a reflection of leadership. They [the military] are trying their best…
“So, put all this together, what we are seeing today, my humble self and many other people who are associated with the military and other security agencies, are very much shocked and surprised that some of these things are happening, happening not too far away from here in Abuja.
“Happening between here and Kaduna and many other parts of this country. I believe this is the time to advise the government to do whatever they can to get better improvements so that people can have confidence in this country.”
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists had recently bombed the Abuja-Kaduna train between Katari and Rigina axis on Monday night.
Many passengers were said to have been initially kidnapped, including Zamfara State former deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Liman, during the deadly attack.
Others were shot dead and an unascertained number of the passengers also sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of gunshots.
Since then, several other attacks have been successfully conducted by the daredevil terrorists in Zaria, Abuja-Kaduna highway and many other places where several Nigerians have either been kidnapped or killed.
There were also reports of terrorists’ attack in the Kubwa axis of Abuja on Wednesday.
