Presidency to Atiku: You cannot dine with the devil and pretend to stand with the masses

By emmanuel MALAGU

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of playing politics with the recent air strike on Jilli Market in Borno.

Dare’s accusation made in his X handle account @sundaydareSD, also questioned Atiku’s patriotism.

In the article titled: “ATIKU: QUESTIONABLE PATRIOT”, he said the former Vice President’s attitude was “both disappointing and telling”.

“At a time when our Armed Forces are taking the fight directly to terrorist enclaves, it is both disappointing and telling to see Atiku Abubakar politicise the recent airstrikes at Jilli Market by alleging that the government is targeting civilians,” he lamented.

He recalled that at the weekend, the Nigerian Air Force carried out targeted, intelligence-led airstrikes on insurgent positions within and around the Jilli axis, where the market is.

He also pointed out that the Jilli Market, though still geographically identifiable had, for years, been overtaken and repurposed as a logistics and trading hub for terrorist elements, including Boko Haram terrorists and ISWAP.

“Let it be clear: while the location may still be referred to as ‘Jilli Market’, it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any meaningful sense.

“By multiple credible accounts, it has evolved into an operational node within the insurgency’s supply chain—facilitating movement, coordination and sustenance of violent actors.

“For Atiku Abubakar to ignore this context and frame a legitimate military action as an attack on civilians is not only misleading—it is reckless.

“It risks distorting public understanding and undermining the morale of those on the frontlines who are daily risking their lives to secure the country.

“What remains difficult to reconcile is the contradiction. He consistently criticises the government for failing to curb insecurity, yet when decisive, intelligence-driven action is taken, he is quick to condemn it.

“That is not principled opposition—it is opportunism,” Dare said.

He said that it was important for clarity to prevail.

“At some point, clarity must prevail. You cannot dine with the devil and still pretend to stand with the masses.

“Nigeria deserves seriousness, not selective outrage,” he said.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline