The member representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency of Ondo state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, has faulted the comments of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, against President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement for a second term in office.
Malami had on Sunday slammed the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) for being insensitive to the plight of citizens and prioritising politics, following the party’s declaration of Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 general election.
According to the former AGF, instead of addressing serious issues of insecurity, economic hardship and rising poverty, APC has chosen to focus on politics, endorsing Tinubu ahead of an election that was still two years away.
Replying to Malami, Ojogo said: “I am a federal lawmaker. I do not hold a brief for the Presidency; I’m not on a mission to hijack the job of our party’s competent spokesperson. I am, nonetheless, constrained to respond to the former AGF as someone who contended with Malami’s mischief during Buhari’s administration.
“Without prejudice to political commentaries and discourse around the endorsement of President Tinubu, I’m amused by Malami’s comments. The comments represent an audacious, hilarious and laughable mischief committed in error. Based on his track record, Malami concludes that Nigerians are a collective case of amnesia. At the same time, he held sway as the AGF of the country, but betrayed his stance on issues affecting the people.”
The lawmaker recalled that while he was commissioner for information and orientation under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration in Ondo State. Malami, who had suddenly become the people’s advocate today, was the major clog in the wheel of the efforts to tackle insecurity in the country, especially in the South West.
“As an active actor, I witnessed firsthand how Malami thwarted every effort of the Southern Governors Forum on security issues. When we were at our lowest and insecurity posed a damning danger among our people, Malami stood against every possible remedy offered by the Southern Governors Forum under the leadership of the late Governor Akeredolu.
“But for the courage and bold move of the late Akeredolu and other Governors in the region, who called Malami’s bluff and dared him, the spate of kidnapping, gruesome killing and other crimes wouldn’t have reduced in the South.
“It’s on record that during the formative stage of Amotekun Corps, an initiative established by the Southwest Governors under the leadership of the late Akeredolu to protect the people and states in the Southwest, the former AGF superintended over the various attempts to abort the timely idea that berthed on the sands of vision and watered by courage to fruition.
Aside from Amotekun, Malami arrogantly opposed Governors who dared to discharge their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and property of their citizens through lawful means. His disdain for the now endearing State Police was evident in a jaundiced mind that detested a working and workable Federalism.
“In the real sense, Malami signposted a potent weapon fashioned against all efforts to stem insecurity in the country while he was the Nation’s Chief Law Officer,” he added.
