Shortly after his shocking revelations to the Nigerian people, General Azazi was axed from his position. A little later, he was killed when the chopper he was travelling in was exploded over Bayelsa.
In his capacity, General Azazi must have known the truth. He obviously had the details surrounding Boko Haram. If anyone should know who is behind Boko Haram, it is the National Security Adviser.
On several occasions, President Goodluck Jonathan has intimated that the presidency knows the forces behind Boko Haram. He has even admitted that they are top level officials.
Explicitly, General Azazi lay bare to his audience who was behind the unrest narrowing it down to the result of ‘unconstitutional’ PDP convention regulations, which were used to decide who could and could not run for President.
The late General Azazi was ready to die for the truth. He was willing to pay the ultimate price for Nigerians to know the truth against all odds.
Gen. Azazi further reviewed the common suspects that are presented to explain the terror that is Boko Haram such as religion, poverty but also the ‘die-hard-to-be-president’ factor.
Azazi said:
“The extent of violence did not increase in Nigeria until there was a declaration by the current president that he was going to contest.
“PDP got it wrong from the beginning, from the on-set by saying Mr A can rule, Mr A cannot rule, Mr B can rule, Mr B cannot rule, according to PDP’s convention, rules and regulation and not according to the constitution {applause}and that created the climate for what has manifest itself, this way.
“I believe that there is some element of politicization. is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, there will be problems in this society.
“Let’s examine all these issues to see whether the level of violence in the North East just escalated because Boko Haram suddenly became better trained, better equipped and better funded, and in any case how did they get it all done…{warning of Boko Haram becoming snipers – who could potentially target elite}
“But, then I must also be quick to point out that today, even if all the leaders that we know in Boko Haram are arrested, I don’t think the problem would end, because there are tentacles.
“I don’t think that people would be satisfied, because the situations that created the problems are not just about the religion, poverty or the desire to rule Nigeria.
“I think it’s a combination of everything. Except you address all those things comprehensively, it would not work.”
Building a terrorist capacity – the arms, the skills and the confidence – is not an easy thing. The whole capacity building is a very complex process.
General Azazi and NSA knows just how hard it is to get the funding, immunity and the mindset, all things that Boko Haram got as soon as Goodluck Jonathan was sworn into office.
Without top level support, it is practically impossible to pull off a Boko Haram. It takes military experience, wealth and intelligence.
You have to be top level, untouchable master and a die hard to be president to make a decision of arming, equipping and protecting Boko Haram, developing it into such a strong and complex threat.
This brings clarity into why Boko Haram remains such an elusive target unlike any terrorist outfit in history.
A significant note about Boko Haram is that it never quite declares its intentions – goals and ambition.
The Boko Haram message is being delivered to one person alone: the President. The rest of their activities are just meant to magnify their reputation and satisfy their love for blood as they ‘get high’ on heroin and cocaine.
That also explains why those who are captured consistently say that they do have a sponsor but cannot mention his name even with a knife on their throats. Reason: they say if they did, the whole of Nigeria would scatter.