Governor David Umahi has blamed the ongoing violence and worsening insecurity across Nigeria on previous democratically-elected presidents and military heads of state, exonerating the current regime of President Muhammadu Buhari from his inept handling of the crisis that has spiralled out of control.

“When people talk about the recent insecurity in our country, I keep saying that the insecurity did not just develop overnight,” Mr Umahi told Channels TV. “It has been a result of the failure of our past leaders to address the future of our youths. And this is the truth.”

He added, “So it’s not a question of blaming Mr President or blaming governors or blaming APC or PDP. It is systematic, and it has been there for a very long time.”

The governor, therefore, indicated that the administrations of then-military heads of state of Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari were architects of the current national disaster. His statement also blamed former Presidents Umar Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan for the wanton violence plaguing the country.

Mr Umahi also added that tackling the crisis required wisdom and prayers.

“I think that we must deploy sincerity in our approach. We must deploy consultation, wisdom and prayers,” Mr Umahi said. “If all these are put together, I am sure that the insecurity in the country will be a thing of the past.”

In the past five months, insecurity has heightened as bandits and Boko Haram wreak havoc across the country.

Mr Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu, had claimed the spate of violent attacks and kidnappings in the country were deliberate attempts by some elements to make it a narrative in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.