A group, the Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC), has lauded an endorsement recently by the United States of America of Nigeria-terrorism strategy, describing the move as capable of enhancing and consolidating the nation’s image as a leading figure in the global coalition against terrorism and violent extremism.
It also said that it will ultimately boost the morale of troops currently engaged in the final operations to rid the North East of the scourge of Boko Haram.
The group said this in a joint statement issued on Monday in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Musa Tukur Tilde and the Chief Media Strategist, Emeka Nwapa while reacting to remarks in Washington D.C by the U.S Secretary of State, Mr Rex Tillerson who spoke at a World Conference on Global Coalition Against Terrorism.
Tillerson, in his opening remarks, while emphasising the need for intelligence and information-sharing in combating terror averred that Nigeria and West Africa have done very well using synergy, intelligence and information sharing to halt terrorists’ attacks thereby defeating Boko Haram.
He urged countries with challenges of domestic terrorist groups to build and adopt the excellent examples of synergy, intelligence and information sharing system which Nigeria employed to win the war against Boko Haram.
The CPC, an advocacy group that is in the vanguard of mobilising public support for the military’s counter-terrorism war as well as promoting democracy, good governance and citizen engagement in the country maintained that the United States’ public praise of President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategy to defeat Boko Haram is highly commendable.
“To President Muhammadu Buhari whose uncommon zeal, sincerity, commitment and clear-headedness about how to defeat Boko Haram within 18 months in office, we say a big thank you.
“To the Nigerian delegation to the Washington counter-terrorism summit led the CDS, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin whose purpose-driven leadership of the Armed Forces anchored on synergy and doggedness in actualizing Mr President’s objectives, we say big kudos.
“To our courageous and gallant troops and the commanders of Operation Lafiya Dole, either fallen or standing, may God bless you all for doing us very proud,’’ the group said, pointing out however that it was the entire Nigerian people that the United States singled out at the World Conference for recognition and commendation.
Recalling that not too long ago, President Buhari had received a phone call in London from the new U.S President Donald Trump who commended Nigeria for her giant counter-terrorism strides, the group noted that at the last 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York late last year came an unprecedented endorsement from former U.S President Barack Obama who openly praised President Muhammadu Buhari and the gallant Nigerian military for defeating Boko Haram.
“It is worth noting that these endorsements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful counter-terrorism strategy by two successive bi-partisan political dispensations in the U.S in a space of three months is perhaps Nigeria’s greatest achievement now. It is our greatest feat as a nation of hope and promise against threats to our national unity, security, stability and prosperity‘’, the group said.
The group observed that such endorsement by the United States is not cheap, pointing out that the U.S has the strongest fighting force in the world apart from being the champion and leader of this free world where violent extremism and terrorism pose great dangers.
“With all the intelligence and information at his disposal, any President of the United States says what he means and means what he says. Therefore, when he says Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy is good enough for adoption by other countries, it is the best endorsement by the world’s acclaimed counter-terrorism leader. As an affiliate to ISIS, Boko Haram is the world’s most deadly terrorist group after ISIS and al-Queda. The U.S is, therefore, convinced about our military’s gallantry over Boko Haram,’’ it said.
“The United States is at the forefront of the global coalition against terrorism. Al Qaeda attacked the twin towers in New York 16 years ago. September 2017 is the 16th anniversary of 9/11 so the memory is still fresh in the average American. When they cite their experience with terrorists, the world should listen. For President Obama and President Donald Trump to single out our military for special commendation is a headliner. It is a vote of international confidence on our Armed Forces under the Chief of Defence Staff,” the group said.
