“…When I finished with them, they all apologized…Anyone that touches an Adamawa man or woman touches me”
By Emmanuel Kwada
Former Senator representing Adamawa North, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, has passionately defended National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu against accusations blaming him for the ongoing surge in insecurity across Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement shared publicly, Senator Abbo recounted confronting individuals from the Southwest who directly held Ribadu responsible for failing to curb rising violence and banditry. He described the moment as shocking and unacceptable.
“We were discussing the current surge in insecurity bedeviling our nation with some people from the Southwest when two of them blamed the NSA for not stopping insecurity in Nigeria,” Abbo stated. “I was shocked by them putting the blame on one man.”
The former lawmaker emphasized that as an indigene of Adamawa State, Ribadu’s home state he felt compelled to speak out in defense, regardless of political differences.
“As an Adamawa man that I am, I owe it a duty to protect any Adamawa person when attacked even if I don’t agree with them politically,” he said.
Abbo stood up during the discussion to clarify the NSA’s role. He pointed out that Ribadu is neither the Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, nor Inspector-General of Police, and thus has no direct command over troops or operational forces.
“His duty is among others to advise the President,” Abbo explained. “Why then put blame on a man burning both sides of his candles to remain afloat?”
Shifting to a broader defense, the senator highlighted Ribadu’s personal integrity in an administration criticized for budgetary shortfalls and opacity.
He noted failures in implementing significant portions of capital budgets in recent years—40% in 2023, 30% in 2024, 20% in 2025, and reportedly 0% so far in 2026—despite subsidy removal and massive borrowing.
“In one of the most corrupt and opaque spending regimes in Nigeria’s recent history… one man stood out without corruption. That is Nuhu Ribadu,” Abbo declared.
“You may hate him for any other reason but you cannot accuse him of corruption because he is incorruptible. Nuhu will NEVER ask you to steal government money and will never accept proceeds of corruption.”
Abbo went further, describing Ribadu as the most respected Nigerian government official internationally under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He credited the NSA with helping secure diplomatic leverage during a challenging period when the United States designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
According to Abbo, when U.S. officials reportedly declined meetings with the President, they agreed to engage directly with Ribadu.
This paved the way for a new U.S.-Nigeria security pact, enhanced cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint efforts against terrorism and violence—outcomes he attributed directly to Ribadu’s global standing.
“When I finished with them, they all apologized,” Abbo concluded.
He urged Nigerians not to allow baseless attacks on fellow citizens, warning: “Don’t ever allow anyone to destroy your brother or sister before your own eyes. When they finish with them today, they will come after you tomorrow.”
Emphasizing loyalty to his roots, Abbo said: “Anyone that touches an Adamawa man or woman touches me. If you want, call me a tribalist, a segregationist or any other word you may choose. I Sen Ishaku Abbo will instinctively first defend my own.”
The defense comes amid mixed public discourse on Nigeria’s security challenges, with Ribadu’s office credited in official statements for improved inter-agency coordination and progress against bandits and terrorists.
Recent U.S.-Nigeria engagements, including the inaugural session of the Joint Working Group in January 2026, have focused on countering violence, religious freedom concerns, and strengthening bilateral security ties.
Happy weekend to you all, Senator Abbo signed off.
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