Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari would defeat the deadly Boko Haram sect. He said in a special Eid-el-Fitri message titled: ‘Let us be strong and unite against insurgency’, that the routing of the terrorists would make Nigeria to truly assume its greatness in the comity of nations. Babangida’s optimism came just as the presidency released the itinerary of the president’s state visit to the United States.
During the visit, Buhari, as part of his efforts to defeat Boko Haram, would discuss with President Barack Obama and other government officials the security situation in Nigeria and in West Africa as well as the terror war. According to Babangida, the violent activities of the sect have continued to portray Islam in a bad light.
“Islam, which I was born into some 74 years ago, is a very peaceful religion that preaches brotherliness and togetherness. It is a religion that encourages love, affection and respect for our neighbours and mankind,” he stated.
While bemoaning the spate of insurgent attacks in recent days, Babangida said the last four weeks had continued to raise concern and to create suspicion about the nation’s security. He called for a new approach and discreet gathering of information in confronting the insurgency.
He also advocated media intelligence in the renewed fight against Boko Haram. He added that the media feedback would help to assemble information and distilling such information in a manner that would benefit the fight against terrorism. Babangida said: “Going by the news and information we get every day, I feel very strongly that the media has a greater role to play in the management of information.
The type of headlines and lead stories that are promoted in favour of the insurgents could only help to motivate members of Boko Haram rather than demotivate them. I expect, with a deep sense of patriotism, to see a greater deal of positive news promoted in support of military efforts at confronting this menace than a celebration of Boko Haram carnage, day in and day out.” Babangida, who condemned making public the transfer of some Boko Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State, said information management must not be toyed with because it was vital to confronting an unconventional warfare such as the Boko Haram attacks.
“Each time we celebrate the dastardly acts of Boko Haram on the front pages of our newspapers and electronic platforms, it is a score for Boko Haram. We must weigh such information against our collective national interest. Do we subscribe to Boko Haram or to the Nigerian nation? Since we are of good consciences and subscribe to the Nigerian nation, military efforts and achievements in the fight against insurgency should be given primacy than what a suicide bomber has just done.
“We must make it a duty to encourage and motivate our military personnel; those who have died in the course of this struggle and those who are still there on the battlefield trying to make the Nigerian society safe for all of us. The families of those who have lost their gallant fighters and breadwinners must be catered for beyond the present tokenism. This initiative will serve as incentive to others who are still in the trenches battling to keep us safe.
“The President, General Muhammadu Buhari as a military officer, understands the import of these altruistic suggestions and I trust that he will take steps to apply some of them that fit into the mainstream strategies already in place.
The approach has to be a holistic one, wellcoordinated with full onslaught launched by the day and night to route these insurgents to surrender. “I have implicit confidence in my mind that President Muhammadu Buhari will put the final nail on the coffin of Boko Haram so that Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations.
“Let me join millions of Nigerians home and abroad in condoling with the families of those who lost their beloved ones during this carnage. Let me also commend the efforts of the Federal Government in helping to address the plights of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across different locations in the country. The renewed interest of the international communities in helping out with superior military hardware towards combating this menace is a welcome development.
“Our Islamic clerics should do more in their daily sermons to prevent new converts and recruits into this deadly group. Both religions preach the virtues of good and pious life tempered with the fear of God or Allah. We must continuously preach sermons that deliver the right messages to our people without ambiguity,” the former military president said.
Also yesterday, the presidency unfolded Buhari’s agenda ahead of his four-day state visit to the US. The president, who departs Nigeria for Washington on Sunday, would meet Obama during which the two leaders would exchange ideas on tackling the insurgency in the North-East that has caused the death of some 15,000 people since 2009.
A statement yesterday by the presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari, who departs from Nigeria on Sunday for the US, would during the visit hold highlevel talks with Obama and other senior US officials on ways to foster stronger economic ties between the two countries.
According to Adesina, others issues on the agenda of the visit include measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West Africa. Details of the itinerary show that Buhari would meet with Obama at the White House on Monday after which he would hold further discussions with the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Mr. Robert Work on military and defence cooperation.
The president is also expected to meet with Vice-President Joe Biden and confer with the US Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch; Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew; Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker and the US Trade representative, Michael Froman on Washington’s support for his administration’s war against corruption as well as fresh measures to boost Nigeria-United States trade relations.
“Before leaving Washington DC, President Buhari will address the United States Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa,” a statement by Adesina said. The US trip will also afford Buhari the opportunity of a reunion with members of the American War College Class of 1980 in which he was a distinguished participant. He is expected back in Abuja on July 23.
No comments:
Post a Comment