Don’t blame the federal government over attack on Buhari — Abubakar Umar
A former military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (retd.), on Tuesday, stated that the federal government should not be blamed for the recent attack on former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in Kaduna State.
The erstwhile administrator who stated this while reacting to the bomb attack on the national leader of the APC warned some politicians against making unguarded statements, especially on sensitive national issues.
Umar was speaking with pressmen in Kaduna.
He said, “Once again, I appeal to our political elites to desist from politics of brinkmanship, aimed at achieving their narrow political interests. They need not be reminded that a violent disintegration of Nigeria would be an ill wind that will blow nobody any good,”
While condemning the attack on Buhari, he argued further that the Federal Government could not have planned to assassinate the former leader, when at the same time decided to upgrade the security around him (Buhari).
He noted that it would be strange for a government that wants to assassinate a popular northerner, like Buhari, “to retain as its National Security Adviser, Col. M.S. Dasuki, son of the Sultan of Sokoto; and his brother-in –law, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, as its Minister of Defence, or even its Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, from Zamfara State.”
Umar said, “When on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, some yet to be identified persons attacked the convoy of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari with a car bomb, some of his supporters or his representatives, as one of them claimed on BBC radio Hausa Service, accused the Federal Government of complicity. This was even before investigations commenced.
“I was concerned and worried by possible dangerous repercussions of such allegations on the peace and unity of the country, which is currently under severe stress. I therefore decided not only to condemn their actions, but also to adduce evidence to counter their wrong and preposterous allegations.
“When about four months ago, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari issued a condemnation of the activities of the Boko Haram sect, the Presidency praised him for what it saw as an act of courage and statesmanship.
“Some of us agreed and welcomed this reaction particularly because it would have the positive effect of building the much-needed consensus in the war against the Boko Haram insurgency.
“We were also delighted by Gen. Buhari’s action, because it provided another evidence, if any was needed, that he was not a religious bigot. And like most northerners, he did not share or support any terrorist religious ideology.
“However, in the fear of the usual Boko Haram reprisal, we advised the Federal Government to beef up security around the General. The Federal Government agreed and reached out to General Buhari with this proposal. By mutual consent, his security was upgraded. I have no doubt that this must have contributed to his survival of the attack.
“The point then is how can a government that is intent on assassinating the General provide him with added security? It would have been most strange, indeed, for a government planning to assassinate this very popular northern icon to retain as its National Security Advisor, Col. M.S.Dasuki, son of the Sultan of Sokoto, and his brother-in-law, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, as its Minister of Defence. The case of the Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, from Zamfara State, may not be different.”
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