Former Abia State Governor and current senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that members of Nigeria’s political elite are fueling the activities of Boko Haram in a calculated attempt to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Kalu claimed that the recent resurgence of the terrorist group is not coincidental but politically engineered by individuals seeking to reclaim power by any means necessary.
“The political class is behind Boko Haram,” Kalu stated. “They are using terrorism as a weapon against Tinubu, just as they did to previous administrations.”
Pressed to elaborate on who he meant by “political class,” Kalu pointed to an alliance of politicians, influential business figures, and senior civil servants. According to him, many of these individuals are driven not by financial greed, but by a desire for political control.
“This is a political war,” he continued. “Some of these actors aren’t after money—they’re after power. They are ready to collapse the system to achieve their aims. That’s not how power should be obtained.”
Kalu argued that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is part of a deliberate campaign orchestrated by elites dissatisfied with the current government.
“The crisis we’re witnessing isn’t just random. It’s politically induced. These people want to hijack power through chaos and fear,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to resist such divisive tactics and instead work together to protect the country’s stability and democratic institutions.
“If we truly care about this nation and its people, we must rise above self-interest. Let’s unite for the common good and focus on building a better future,” Kalu concluded.
His remarks came in the wake of a deadly Boko Haram attack on Sunday in Mairari Village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, where nine passengers were reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device planted by insurgents.
Reacting to the incident, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, condemned the attack as “inhumane” and urged the military to intensify efforts to retake Guzamala from insurgent control.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, also expressed concern over the renewed wave of terrorist violence, warning that continued insecurity poses a significant threat to the state’s development and stability.
