The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed calls for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari due to his health condition.
The forum said the call for Mr. President’s resignation was unconstitutional and misplaced.
ACF in its reaction to a statement credited to the Co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls group (BBOG), Aisha Yusuf, calling on President Buhari to resign, said the call was unnecessary.
According to a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, ACF said, Nigerians should pray for President Muhammadu Buhari, rather than intimidating him or calling for his resignation.
According to the statement, “Nigeria is practising a presidential system of government as contained in the 1999 constitution (as amended). President Buhari has done what is constitutionally required of him to do by his letter to the leadership of the National Assembly. The Vice President is now Acting President, performing the duties of Mr. President.
“In other countries, when their President fall sick or become incapacitated while in office, the citizens encourage him through prayers and good wishes, rather than intimidation or calling for his resignation.
“We can draw a lesson from such countries and wish President Buhari well for the progress of our country.
“The call by Aisha Yusuf co-convener of BBOG for President Buhari to resign is therefore unnecessary, misplaced and not in tune with the provisions of our 1999 constitution,” the forum stated.
Tag: Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)
-
Call for Buhari’s resignation unnecessary – ACF
-
ACF warns those behind Ganduje, Emir Sanusi rift to desist
..as Anthony Sani becomes ACF Sec Gen
Mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned those fanning the ember of crisis between Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II to desist.
ACF while commending the efforts of Northern States Governors Forum for the peace it brokered between the duo, urged that the agreement reached should be respected in the interest of peace and stability of Northern Nigeria.
The forum in a communique issued at the end of its joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council said, “the attention of the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum has been drawn to the simmering crisis between the Kano State Government and the Kano Emirate Council.
“However, ACF is aware of the peace initiative brokered by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) in Kaduna and hope that the decisions taken would continue to be respected in the interest of peace and stability of the North and Nigeria in general.
“ACF urges all outside interest groups to desist from fanning the embers of discord”, it said.
The communiqué signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu also revealed that the forum, now has a new Secretary General, Mr. Anthony N. Z Sani.
Anthony Sani who is a one time National Publicity Secretary of ACF is taking over from Col. John I. P Ubah, who resigned the position.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, IGP rtd, has been reelected as the Chairman National Executive Committee of the forum.
According to the communiqué, “The Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council of Arewa Consultative Forum under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Adamu M. Fika (Wazirin Fika), Chairman BOT, was held on the 10th of May, 2017,at the ACF Headquarters, No. 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna.
“In attendance were the Chairman NEC, Alhaji Ibrahim A. Coomassie, IGP rtd, GCON, mni, Sardauna Katsina, Deputy Chairman BOT, AVM Mukhtar Mohammed Wazirin Dutse, Lt. Gen MI Wushishi rtd),and other members of both the BOT and NEC from the 19 Northern States and Abuja.
“The meeting received and adopted the report of the 2017 Leadership Selection Committee for officials of the National Working Committee of NEC. The recommendations of the Committee were discussed and accepted as follows;
“The re-election of the Chairman NEC, IGP Ibrahim A. Coomassie and all other members of the National Working Committee for another tenure of three 3 years. The acceptance of resignation letter of Col JIP Ubah, rtd, as the Secretary General of the Forum. The election of Mr. Anthony N. Z. Sani as the new Secretary General of the Forum.
“Others are: the election of Brig. Gen Sen. John Shagaya as Vice-Chairman of the BOT. That henceforth the practice of restricting recruitment of leaders to specific geo-political zones be discontinued in respect of the Chairman of BOT, Chairman of NEC and Secretary General. It shall now be opened to all interested persons from the North. However, for the lower level leadership positions of both the BOT and the NWC, they should continue to be distributed to the geo-political zones on rotational basis.
“The tenure of all officials in the NEC shall run for only one single term of three (3) years. The tenure of the leadership of the BOT shall run for only one single term of four (4) years. The meeting reaffirmed its belief in the unity of the North and the peaceful coexistence of its people.
“Towards this end, the forum appeals to all Nigerians to come to terms with the reality that the current socio-economic challenges the nation is passing through are not beyond redemption and can become history under purposeful leadership”, the communiqué read.
-
ACF to Presidency, Senate: Sheath your swords, tackle Nigeria’s challenges
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Presidency and the Senate to sheath their swords and work together to address the numerous challenges confronting Nigeria.
ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu said, Nigeria is faced with insecurity, economic recession and socio-political problems that require synergy between the Executive and the Senate for good governance and not show of power.
According to the statement, “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is worried and disturbed with the open fights among appointees of the President Muhammadu Buhari on one hand and the altercation between the Executive and the National Assembly in particular the Senate on the other.
“It is a known fact that in the last three weeks or so, Nigerians have witnessed open disagreement between officials of government that are supposed to work in concert, thereby threatening national cohesion and the development of our young democracy.
“The relationship between the Executive and the Senate on the other hand to say the least is unhealthy, with each flexing its muscle to intimidate the other over issues that could easily be resolved.
“This development is certainly not the best for Nigeria considering the myriad of challenges facing the nation. We are faced with insecurity, economic recession and socio-political problems that require synergy between the Executive and the Senate for good governance and not show of power.
“The attitudes of some government officials over simple invitation by the Senate to come and clarify certain policy issues do more damage than good to the expected cordial working relationship. On the other hand the Senate resolutions meant to intimidate or threaten the Executive is unnecessary and portrays the Senate as vindictive and antagonistic.
“ACF therefore appeals to the two arms of government to sheath their swords in the interest of Nigerians who voted them into power and work harmoniously. We can only enjoy the dividends of democracy when all the three arms work in concert, understanding and respect for one another.
“Our constitution provides for separation of powers to facilitate checks and balances in governance, which should be upheld. Any distraction that will threaten our democracy at this material time is uncalled for.
“It is our hope that this passionate appeal will touch the hearts of our leaders to promptly do the needful. We welcome the courage and magnanimity of President Buhari in constituting a Committee under the Vice President Prof Yomi Osinbajo to end the rift between the Executive and the National Assembly”, it said.
-
ACF to Yoruba Elders: Don’t give ethnic coloration to Ile-ife crisis
Mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has appealed to Yoruba elders to in the interest of national unity restrain from giving ethnic coloration to the unfortunate crisis that erupted in Ile-ife, Osun State recently.
ACF said, described the clash between some Yoruba and Hausa traders as criminality, which it said does not know ethnicity or religion.
The Northern socio-cultural group in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Muhammadu Ibrahim noted with dismay, accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the Police report on the clash was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.
It therefore cautioned that, disagreement between individuals or groups of persons that are regarded as ethnic or religious tend to deepen hatred and division among Nigerians, therefore, elders known for their wisdom in settling disputes should not fan embers of divisions among their followers.
According to the statement, “after the unfortunate clash that happened two weeks ago at Ile-Ife, Osun State between some Yoruba and Hausa traders, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in our reaction condemned the killings and called on all and sundry involved to eschew bitterness and imbibe the spirit of accommodation and tolerance.
“ACF commended the prompt action taken by the Security Agencies, the Osun State Government and Community leaders to restore peace and normalcy in Ile-Ife.
“ACF also called on the various communities that have lived together in peace and harmony over the years to always exercise restraints in their utterances on such sensitive issues that might snowball into crises with reprisal consequences. Our position was widely published in both print and electronic media.
“Unfortunately, subsequent events after the preliminary investigation report of the Police into the Ile-Ife crisis, there have been accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the Police report was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.
“ACF’s position in this regard is to appeal to the respected Elders of Yoruba not to give unnecessary ethnic coloration to the unfortunate Ile-Ife clash as criminality knows no ethnicity or religion.
“Any slightest disagreements between individuals or groups of persons that are regarded as ethnic or religious tend to deepen hatred and division among Nigerians. Elders are known for their wisdom in settling disputes and not to fan embers of divisions among their followers.
“ACF therefore, once more calls for restraints among the various community leaders and urge them to document their grievances and channel same through our known legal process of addressing such grievances, rather than making provocative and inciting statement capable of creating disunity”, the statement read.
-
ACF laments slow pace of FG projects
….Wants PHCN privatisation reviewed
The mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has risen from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, lamenting what it described as slow pace of Federal Government projects.
This was also as the Northern socio-cultural group asked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency review the privatisation of the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN), which it said has gone bad in the hands of the private investors who acquired them.
ACF in a communique issued at the end of the meeting presided over by its Deputy Chairman NEC, Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande urged that provision be made in 2017 budget to complete projects that are of economic values and have direct bearing on the lives of the people, like Baro Port Terminal, Mambilla Power Project, the Kano-Maiduguri Dual Carriage Way and Kano-Lagos Railway.
According to the communiqué signed by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, the meeting deliberated extensively on management matters and issues of national importance.
“The meeting noted with serious concern the slow pace of work on some Federal Government projects that are of economic value and have direct bearing on the lives of the people. Projects like the completion of Baro Port Terminal, the Mambilla Power Project, the Kano-Maiduguri Dual Carriage Way, Kano-Lagos Railway, and many others. It therefore calls on the Government and the National Assembly to appropriate adequate funds in the 2017 Budget for the completion of these projects.
“The meeting noted the abysmally low power generation and erratic power supply being experienced nationwide. It therefore questioned the wisdom of the privatization of the Power Holding Company (PHCN) and also the capacity of the private entrepreneurs that bought the power generation and distribution outfits.
“The regular excuses of shortage of gas supply, low water level, vandalization of installations, lack of spare parts etc which have continued to be given as reasons for poor power supply over the years are no longer tenable. The new owners of the Generation plants and the Distribution outfits were expected to have complimented Federal Government huge investments by injecting more funds and expertise that will improve performance at minimum cost to the consumers.
“ACF therefore calls on the Federal Government to take necessary and practical steps that will improve the power supply including reviewing the privatization. Government should also put in place policy framework that will encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, (solar and coal) to compliment the thermal and hydro generating plants.
“The meeting commended the efforts of the Nigerian military and the security agencies in tackling the insecurity situation with its limited personnel and equipment. It however noted the on-going recruitment exercise into the various security organizations, Military, Air Force, Police Force, Para-military agencies, which will ultimately strengthen the security outfits, and urged the youth to avail themselves to this opportunity.
“The meeting noted with dismay the recurrent ethnic/religious and farmers/herdsmen clashes in Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa and other states and resolved to visit the affected communities to commiserate with them over the unfortunate killings and destruction of property. It will also mediate between the warring factions with the view to finding an amicable solutions to the conflict.
“It noted that the proposed Northern Security Summit to be held in April being supported by the Northern States Governors Forum will to a larger extent address causes of these conflicts and proffer enduring solutions.
“The meeting also applauded the Federal Government’s policy on food security which encourages investment in agriculture and calls on our farmers to avail themselves to the revolving funds set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions. Nigeria’s dependence on imported rice has not only deflated our foreign reserve and enriched other countries, but has made us to abandoned our potential greatness in agriculture.
“ACF therefore calls on the Government at all levels to encourage our farmers to form cooperative societies in order to enjoy the agricultural facilities being provided by the financial institutions. Farmers should also endeavor to reciprocate the government’s gesture by promptly paying back the loans granted them to sustain the revolving fund”, the communiqué read.
-
MEND, Avengers armed robbers – N/Delta council
Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council WorldWide (SNDYCW) has disowned the Niger Delta Avengers and Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), describing their activities as pure armed robbery.
The President General of the Council, Prince Michael Newgent Eaton who stated this when the council under the guidance of former Senate president, Mr. Joseph Wayas met with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna on Thursday, stated categorically that, members of the MEND group and the Avengers should be arrested and prosecuted.
Ekamon remarked that they were in Kaduna to meet with leaders and elders of the region who have served the country well and want to see that the country remains as one indivisible entity.
“Our group are not militants. We are here to see how we can build one Nigeria. We want to condemn the activities of the Avengers and MEND. They are criminals. But better put armed robbers who are stealing the wealth of our land.
“We know them. We know that some of the Avengers have served in the previous government and they are even serving in this present government.
“If we are given the mandate, we will go and confront them in their houses. So, we don’t want the President (Buhari) to be deceived by their antics. There is nothing in the real sense like avengers. They are playing pranks.
The President stated further that, the problem in the region was not the problem of the Federal government but rather their leaders who have been sabotaging the region because of their greed.
He contended further: “What is it that the federal government has not done for the region. We have OMPADEC, NDDC, 13 percent derivation, Ministry for Niger Delta, security votes. We don’t know what our governors are doing with the security votes.”
He remarked that it was based on this premise that they are organizing a summit in Edo State between the 27th and 29th of October to discuss the problem in the region,saying,’we are here to extend our hands of friendship to the people in this region (North). To seek their blessing and support. That’s why we are here with the former Senate president (Joseph Wayas) who has never been invited by any anti corrupt agency. We also have the blessing of former Head of state, General Gowon.
Responding, the chairman of the ACF, Ibrahim Coomasie observed that the two regions had sustained a long period of friendship.
Represented by one of the elders in the region, Musa Liman, the ACF chairman said the forum believes in the doctrine of one Nigeria where equal justice and equity prevails.
-
Yakasai flays sale of national assets
The former Political Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai Monday in Kano said selling the country’s assets as solution to the current economic recession will further plunge the nation into another major economic crisis.
Yakasai who is a foundation member of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) argued further that such action in the name of reviving the ailing economy will at the end result restrict income and impoverish the masses into abject poverty.
The elder Statesman spoke at his Kano residence when Senator Shehu Sani paid him a courtesy visit to discuss the-state-of-the-nation, said that previous experiences on the sale of national assets have clearly indicated that it is not solution to the present Nigeria’s economic predicament.
According to him, “I learnt that people were recommending for the sale of our national asset in order to address the issue of economic recession-this is a wrong approach! All of us have a family, if you were giving N100 to your wife to cook for you and it is what you could afford, then all of a sudden you find yourself in a situation that you could no longer afford a N100, it is not a solution for you to begin to sell your furniture, your dresses in order to maintain your N100 meal; because those items will one day be sold off and then you reach the end of all your efforts.
“It happened to me before, I ran into economic crisis and I decided to sell my things; until I sold half of it, then I realized that there was no end to it, then I stopped. Again, I have realized that in Nigeria, we did it before, the British left us with the Nigeria National Shipping Line, they left us with the Nigeria Air Ways, they left us investment in banks, investments in NITEL and the rest of them.
“Our military rulers decided to sell our assets. Our predicaments, our troubles started with the coup de tat that took place in Nigeria–three of them, they were unnecessary–the 1966 coup, the 1975 coup, the 1983 coup! Each time one of such coup took place, we lose our direction.
They didn’t solve our problems, they only multiplied our problems.”
He further stated that, “even during Obasanjo, I remember Obasanjo said he was selling our assets because 70 per cent of our budget was going to finance recurrent expenditure. So he started selling NICON, Legislative quarters, federal secretariats, federal government houses, ministers quarters, fertilizer company, the Ajaokuta Steel (which was recovered later) and so on; he sold them.
“We were all here when he sold them. After selling all these things, what is the ratio of our budget today–is it not 70 to 30 per cent? 70 for recurrent expenditure, and 30 per cent for capital expenditure. It is out of the 30 that we service debts. So, to me this idea of selling assets will not take Nigeria anywhere.”
Yakasai also kicked against the call for restructuring of Nigeria, saying that such move will not bring any political solution.
According to him, the only thing Nigeria needs is true and sincere leadership, adding that, “the call for restructuring has no road map in the first place. Some call it True Federalism, some call it Fiscal Federalism.
“I must tell you that there is nothing like True Federalism in the right sense of it. There is no Federation that is the same all over the world. Go and inquire from political scientists and they will tell you, there is no way the American federalism will be the same with that of Nigeria, there must be differences. So, we should look at ways of telling ourselves the truth and evolve a leadership that can carry all the regions along.”
He also commended President Muhammadu Buahri’s determination seeking solutions for the current economic quagmire, just as he adviced him to study how the United States of America experience when they had economic recession at the inception of President Barak Obama’s administration.
Speaking earlier, Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District regretted that, “we have seen how a culture of waste and mismanagement over the years, how a culture of lack of saving has made it impossible for us to address some issues that are facing us as a country. As parliamentarians, your words will be of help to us and also to the ruling government and party. It is a fact that Nigerians are suffering and the country that was seen to be very promising in Africa in the past is now lacking the capacity to stir the ship of our state and to lead other African states.
“It is disgraceful that our political ruling elite over the years have not been able to save for the rainy day. It has reached a point today where by states can no longer pay salaries; they are owing deeper and deeper into debt; and it also looks as if there is no clear plan on ground to exit ourselves from the problems we have found ourselves.”
-
ACF to Avengers: Don’t invite another civil war
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Friday warned the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) to desist from its ‘madness’ of breaking pipelines.
ACF daubed the wanton sabotage of the nation’s economic progress as an invitation to another civil war which the country cannot afford.
ACF Chairman and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie in a telephone interview with The Nation said, the several attacks carried out by the Avengers were unjustifiable, as necessary machinery to develop the region has been put in place by the Federal Government.
He said: “There is the Ministry of Niger-Delta; they have Niger-Delta Development Company and they have amnesty intervention and money was being passed through all these agencies. So, why didn’t they develop their areas.
“Why are they asking for more? They were in government and certain projects were diverted there, including the fund for the dredging of River Niger, what else do they want?
“Why didn’t they do all these during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?
“So, I believe they are doing it deliberately. Look at Biafra too. Are they doing it to make the country difficult for this government to rule?
“Now, that they are even refusing dialogue, do they want confrontation? There has been confrontation in this country before. Do we want a repeat? We have had one before and I believe no country can afford a civil war twice.
“So, Niger-Delta Avengers should give peace a chance. If they want a particular thing, they should come out and mention it, then Federal Government will consider it in its own merit. So, they should stop calling for another war,” Coomassie stated.
-
Saraki to ACF: All zones must contribute to GDP for national stability
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday appealed to all geopolitical zones in the country to contribute equitably to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in order to ensure national stability.
Saraki according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu in Abuja, made the appeal when the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Ibrahim Coomassie, led other executive members of the Forum to visit the Senate President at the National Assembly.
The Senate President said the only way for the North to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation’s GDP and the diversification of the economy is for its leaders to methodically focus on mining and agriculture.
Saraki said: “My appeal is that in all countries that have gone through similar economic challenges like ours, recovery does not happen overnight. There will be initial pain, but eventually, the future will be bright. It is this journey that we should have embarked upon many years ago. We cannot run away from it.
“We cannot continue to depend only on oil. We must look at agriculture. Specifically for those of us from the North, agriculture is key. I also want to say that for the stability of any country, it is important that every part of the country is seen to be contributing to the economy of the country. A country where it is only one part that contributes to the economy is a recipe for disaster.
“For the stability of this country, it is important that we from the North must play our own role to contribute significantly to the GDP of this country. It is then we come to the table on equal terms and then we will be able to ensure the stability of this country. The only way for us to make our contribution is to go back to mining and agriculture. We must talk to our people that it is time for hard work to do that.”
Saraki noted that the 8th National Assembly is already looking at laws to improve the business environment, address infrastructure deficit and, ensure private participation in construction and maintenance of roads, ports and even railway systems in the country.
He told the northern elders that the National Assembly is committed to supporting President Muhammadu Buhari so that he can achieve success in his fight against corruption and bad governance.
He said: “I think we don’t have much choice because a lot of Nigerians spoke at the last election and said goodbye to impunity and bad governance. They want leadership based on transparency and accountability and the 8th Senate is going to work tirelessly to ensure that we give them just that.
“In doing that, we need your support, because we are going to step on toes. In doing that we are going to be seen to be doing things that have not been done before and of course those that do not want change will fight back. That is natural. But our distinguished Senators are committed and no amount of intimidation and blackmail will stop us from doing what we know is in the interest of the good people of Nigeria.”
Saraki reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget on March 17, 2016, adding that after the passage, the National Assembly would focus on the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“It is our intention that as soon as we pass the budget, the constitutional amendment committee that we have set up will begin to meet. I have told them that I will like to see that by June, they have finished and the proposed amendment should go to the State Houses of Assembly.”
Coomassie told the Senate President that the visit was meant to sustain and consolidate the cordial relationship that exist between the ACF and the Senate since 1999.
He congratulated Saraki on that inauguration of the 8th Senate and described the National Assembly as an epitome of democracy.
Coomassie said: “May I also acknowledge the support and cooperation the executive arm of government enjoys from you as clearly demonstrated by the speedy screening of the Ministers by the Senate and the consideration of the 2016 Appropriation Bill which the National Assembly has pledged to pass before the end of this month.”
He reminded the Senate that their role does not end in legislation alone, but also to ensure the “effectiveness of oversight functions and transparency for the benefit of Nigerians…. ACF shall continue to support you to legislate well…”
-
Why Nigerians must support Army
I just watched the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai on Television after he visited troops in Geidam Community of Yobe State, as a result of Wednesday’s attack by Boko Haram militants who over-ran the military.
Tn the attack, the insurgents killed 3 soldiers, carted away many weapons and ammunition abandoned by the military on the run and looted mostly food and petroleum products from the popular Wednesday market.
I was particularly touched by the honesty of General Buratai who was obviously angry with the troops who had run away from Geidam town.
In his words, the General said “How can you allow these criminals over-run you? How can you run away from this rag-tag and untrained criminals? You allowed them to operate here for 12hours unchallenged. You refused to come back until they withdrew.”
On the surface, the words of COAS Buratai are very hurtful to the image of the Nigerian Army but this is the painful reality today.
The Nigerian Army seems to be overwhelmed and demoralized.
The image of the Nigerian Army has suffered so much damages in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community mainly because of the way they have handled the war against Boko Haram in the past 3years.
These insurgents have repeatedly, for over 2years, embarked upon massive propaganda using social media to demonize the Nigerian Army.
They have through so many online propaganda and campaigns portrayed our army as a weak and a cowardly army that cannot stand to fight.
Many online media and personalities helped the insurgents to achieve their propaganda campaigns either intentionally or otherwise.
It is important for us to know that all wars are fought both on ground, air, sea, land and in the minds of all parties involved in the war and most importantly in the psyche of the citizens. To win this war against Boko Haram, we must conquer the minds of Boko Haram with fear, win over our allies and friends by convincing them our army is capable and reliable and also boost the confidence of our troops through citizenry support since the morale of our troops are boosted when they know the citizens of their country are solidly behind them.
The Nigerian Army and our other security agencies are our last line of defense against these barbarians since we cannot defend ourselves against their satanic attacks. If not for the efforts of the Nigerian Military and our other security agencies, these barbarians would have taken over the entire nation, enforced their barbaric and misguided religious tenets on all of us, restricted us to their false Sambisa sharia law system, forced our Sisters into sex slavery like they have done to the Chibok Girls and make us live in perpetual fear of terror.
[quote font_size=”18″ font_style=”italic” bgcolor=”#000000″ bcolor=”#e2e2e2″]We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.” ― Winston S. Churchill[/quote]
If not for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, many Muslims and Christians across our country would not be able to go to the mosque on Fridays or the church on Sundays.
Boko Haram seeks to destroy Christianity and Islam and do not wish any of us well, Nigerians, irrespective of religious consideration, party affiliation and tribal affinity, must realize that Boko Haram are our common enemies and not just the Nigerian Army’s.
The Army means well and are doing their very best to protect us all despite the overwhelming odds, they need our support at all times.
This was what the opposition party in the days of President Goodluck Jonathan was admonished with but they refused to listen. They politicized everything.
Sadly, they politicized the attempt by the former president to list Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO); they politicized the procurement of arms to prosecute the war; they politicized appointments of service chiefs; they politicized State of Emergency in the North East; they politicized Chibok and turned it into a campaign tool against Jonathan.
The PDP-led Federal Government and the Nigerian Army, for inexplicable reasons, chose to see issues as an appendage of the PDP rather than the federal government.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, now governor of Kaduna State and many leading APC chieftains then referred to the Nigerian army as Jonathan’s army. They politicized everything as regards the fight against the deadly sect.
At some point in time, their presidential candidate now President Muhammadu Buhari called an attack against Boko haram an attack against Northern Nigeria.
If the political class and all Nigerians had supported the then Federal Government and our security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram, may be we would have long won the war.
The politicization of the war against Boko Haram caused more damage than good on the whole nation. Those who saw the war against Boko Haram as an avenue for them to keep scoring needless and cheap political points in the North, sabotaged the efforts of our security agencies.
They got the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to issue endless press releases kicking against the ban on Boko Haram and the plan of the then FG to list Boko Haram as an FTO which was needed to get arms from our allies to effectively prosecute the war.
And finally, when Boko Haram was listed as an FTO, they began another campaign against the army saying former Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Ihejirika was also a sponsor of Boko Haram and was the one supplying arms to Boko Haram on the orders of former president Jonathan.
Their allegations were so scary and consistent that our allies became skeptical of supplying us with arms, and the United States and Israel refused selling arms to us to fight the deadly sect.
We had to turn to Russia for help. As if that was not enough, the former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako even did the unbelievable, accusing the FG of genocide against Northern Nigeria and suggested that federal troops were the ones dropping arms for Boko Haram with helicopters.
Furthermore, it was Mallam El-Rufai that built a propaganda foundation which suggested that former President Jonathan was the one sponsoring Boko Haram against the North.
He also tried to bring in the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ex-Niger Delta Militants and others as possible sponsors of the terrorist group. El-rufai ensured he poisoned the minds of young people from the North and many of his followers on social media against the then president Jonathan by maintaining this lie. He further justified this lie when he spoke at Chatham House by presenting a table to justify his propaganda theory.
The questions all Nigerians must now begin to ask those who refused to support the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan and our security agencies in their fight against Boko Haram then and who are suddenly supporting the Federal Government and the army now is, what has changed? Is Goodluck Jonathan still the one sponsoring Boko Haram with the help of his Niger Delta ex-militants? Is CAN still the one sponsoring Boko Haram? Explanations were offered to APC on why they should see the battle against the terrorists as a national issue rather than treated as a political one just for parochial and mundane reasons, that where national security is concerned, we must not play politics with it but they did not listen.
They threw caution to the wind and were playing loudly to the gallery. Now see where that has gotten us to, in just 120 days of president Buhari taking over, the deadly group has killed more than 1,300 Nigerians and bombed Abuja twice.
The message here is this, the enemy is Boko Haram, not the Federal Government, not president Buhari, and definitely not our ever caring Nigerian Army and the security agencies who daily spend their days in the heat and their nights in the cold while the rest of us spend times with families in the comfort of our homes.
The military deserves our respect and support as they remain in the forefront in the fight against these barbarians.
Deji Adeyanju is a Member of the PDP
He writes from Abuja and can be contacted:
Twitter: @adeyanjudeji
Email: dejiadeyanju_1979@yahoo.co.uk
[news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Boko Haram” count=”8″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link” header_background=”#dd0808″ header_text_color=”#42a7b5″]