President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday disclosed that saboteurs who are not happy about the reforms his administration has embarked on since he came on board are those behind the insecurity and killings in the country.
The president, who revealed this in Lagos at the launch of the book The NADECO story, written by Mr Ayo Opadokun, who was the spokesperson and general secretary of the organisation, said the same disgruntled elements were doing everything possible to frustrate his administration, more so that if they had their way, they might kill him.
The event, which was attended by most lieutenants of the NADECO struggle, such as Dr Olisa Agbajoba(SAN), Senator Bode Olajumoke, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, Dr Tokunbo Ajasin, Professor Anya O.Anya, Dr Joe Okei- Odumakin, Solomon Asemota, Wale Osun and others, was also used to recognise and give an appreciation award to those who participated in the struggle.
President Tinubu, who was represented by former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, said the insecurity challenges the country was facing were deliberate and masterminded by those who felt their means of defrauding the country had been blocked by the president’s economic policies.
According to the president, the major issues his administration is facing are fixing the economy and subduing insecurity, and he assured that, if elected to a second term, he would implement the political policies he has in mind to make life better and more meaningful for Nigerians.
“As for security, he told me to tell you that, he is aware that there is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peace of this country by people who he knew he has offended by canceling multiple exchange rate, or by canceling oil subsidy and those cabal who are doing round tripling, they wish him dead anytime but he is determined, if that is the only thing left that to arrange the economy, no matter what, that he is going to face it.
“He greets all of you for bringing the country to where we are Today. By the grace of God, many of the things you people have been asking him to do will be implemented when he gets his second term.
“He said the major issue before him now is the economy and security. What you can see now is that the security issue is now dovetailing; it is gradually moving to the southwest zone. He says the first major thing he is facing now is the economy. You can see that the difference between the parallel market and the official market is virtually zero now.”
Also speaking at the event, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka noted that there are still individuals who played critical roles in the NADECO movement, and that they should be recognised and honoured for their contributions to the struggle.
Harping on the book, he said the author gave a factual story of what happened during the struggle, saying, “Ayo didn’t pretend, this is the whole story, but he tells his part of it, what is investigated as a cause to act upon and which proves its veracity by the result that followed in counters without the people.
“I really appreciated that he gave us this document; the rest of the story can be told.”
Soyinka, however, promised to fix a time to give full details of the NADECO struggle, saying, “it is one of those epic enmasses with no contradiction that goes on day by day with remembrances, eulogies, it will never end.
“So many things happen, we run into individuals who don’t disappear from our lives completely, they just play their roles, and that is it.”
Opadokun, in his welcome address, said, “Today, we gather to say what history has left unsaid for too long. We remember. We acknowledge. And we honour that the rationale for this event goes beyond recognition. It is about national healing, historical accuracy, and civic education.”
In his speech, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, who also gave an account of the role he and others played in the struggle, said the most important thing is to allow Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy, because that is the essence of the struggle.
