OPC Discloses Identity Of Northern Elites Funding Boko Haram, Bandits

• OPC said the ex-minister was not in his right frame of mind and should never have been chosen to spearhead the fight against insurgency.

The O’odua Peoples Congress has described as unfortunate and demeaning statement by former Chief of Army Staff, Abdurahman Dambazau (retd) likening them and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Boko Haram.

Ekohotblog had reported that the former Chief of Army Staff, on Saturday averred that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) share the same ideology with Boko Haram.

Dambazzau speaking at the inauguration of Army War College Nigeria Course in Abuja, said that those groups, just like Boko Haram sect, are resentful of peaceful and unified Nigeria, noting they all seek the disintegration of Nigeria. 

Reacting, OPC in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary Mr Yinka Oguntimehin, lampooned the for his statement.

The group said the former Army Chief was suffering from severe memory loss and no longer in sync with happenings in the country.

According to OPC, Dambazau and four top Northern leaders in 2014 before the general election, were behind the recruitment of bandits into the country.

OPC said Dambazau approached the federal government and beseeched it to release nearly a billion naira as settlement for bandits.

“Dambazau’s statement that OPC and IPOB are very much the same as the dreaded Boko Haram was made in bad faith. Such statements raise questions about his intentions, interests and morality as a former COAS that has been supporting bandits financially and technically.

“This same former chief of army staff, together with four top Northern leaders had in 2014, before the general election organized the recruitment of bandits into the country.

“Moreso, when he became the minister of Interior under President Buhari, he pleaded that the Federal Government raise over N800 billion to settle the bandits; a request that was opposed by Nigerians.

“However, for such a person to say OPC is the same as Boko Haram, is not only demeaning but also most unfortunate to say the least”

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