Defeat ISWAP, Boko Haram Before 2023 – Buhari Orders Service Chiefs
- Preaches peace at Christmas with APC, PDP
BY EDMOND ODOK – With the challenge of insecurity clearly haunting his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday issued fresh marching orders to the country’s service chiefs to defeat the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East before he leaves office in 2023.
Competent sources disclosed that the Presidential order to completely crush and wipe out the insurgents was handed down the order at an emergency meeting of the Security Council in Abuja following the firing of rockets close to the Maiduguri airport shortly before the President arrived the Borno State capital.
Against the backdrop of reports that several people were killed in the rocket attacks, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba Usman said some masterminds of the deadly incident have already been eliminated.
This is as the President told Nigerians in his Christmas message to invoke the “indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavoury situations in the nation’s history.”
An inside source hinted that at the Security Council meeting, President Buhari again ordered the Security Chief to ensure no inch of the nation’s territory is ceded to the criminal elements, even as he wondered how Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents kept striking from the same corridor unchecked.
Ordering the Service Chiefs to up their game in the war against insurgency before he leaves office, the President, whose second tenure runs out on May 29, 2023, said there are no mincing words about the directives given to the troops in Maiduguri on the need to rout Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents without further delay.
A top source, who spoke in confidence with one of our correspondents, said the meeting took a critical look at recent developments in the polity and the appraisal session was clearly unhappy about the insurgents’ strike on Thursday which put a blight on the President’s visit to Maiduguri.
It was gathered that attendance at the emergency security meeting included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd); Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd); and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyema and the
Also in attendance were the service chiefs: Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’i; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, among other presidential aides.
Another insider at the meeting volunteered that the President was worried by the recurring assaults from the same area given that before his visit, a security/intelligence evaluation had indicated the need to cordon off this axis in auxiliary operation.
According to the source, though the President did not betray any emotion during his visit, it was obvious that he was not impressed with the situation of things as the insurgents were able to fire rockets and even target the Maiduguri International Airport during the attack.
However, in his Christmas message, President Buhari said as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is imperative to invoke the “indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavoury situations in the nation’s history.”
The President, who admitted that Nigeria is yet to overcome its security challenges “despite the remarkable successes generally recorded”, said; “Our courageous security forces, bolstered by the necessary support from this administration, daily confront the wicked ones amongst us, who continue to threaten the peace of the land.
“Recently, during the meeting with fellow Heads of State of the ECOWAS, I discussed the need to intensify efforts to jointly confront this menace causing instability in our sub-region. I am confident that with the renewed commitment and empowerment of our committed security personnel, all these issues which inflict pain and trauma on us will soon be history.
“Let us utilise the opportunity that this festive period brings to encourage ourselves so that the machinations of the wicked ones in our midst will find no place to thrive. Christmas is a season when hope is rekindled. Hope, Peace, Joy, Love are the recurring themes of this time.
“It is in the midst of hardship that the true test of a nation emerges. I urge Nigerians to invoke the indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavory situations in the nation’s history.”
He assured that the government would keep the promises made to Nigerians for a better life while working to “create opportunities for our teeming youths to ventilate their tremendous energy.”
While noting that this is the second consecutive Christmas that the world “will not be able to celebrate as we used to in years past,” on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Buhari appealed to Nigerians to “embrace vaccination, which is the best scientifically known bulwark against the pandemic.”
Importantly, the President also said those that have received two doses already should go ahead and take the booster as advised by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) for their personal safety.
Ayu Charges Nigerians To Keep Hope Alive
Importantly, goodwill messages came from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, charging Nigerians to keep hope alive in the face of daunting challenges.
In his Christmas message, Ayu said although the occasion symbolises love, hope, sharing, celebration and thanksgiving, the gloomy economic situation has made things quite difficult in the country, adding; “But I charge Nigerians not to lose hope. Keep hope alive.”
“There is life beyond the APC gloom. The day will break after this long night. Do not let the sorry state of the nation dampen the Christmas spirit”, the PDP Chairman said.
APC Committed To Improved Elections’ Processes
This is as the ruling APC expressed commitment to “constitutionally permitted and practical innovations and processes that will improve the transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s electioneering processes and internal democracy.”
According to the National Secretary of APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, it is important for all citizens to continue trusting the Buhari administration’s “capacity, intent, and urgency to check and contain all criminalities so that Nigerians could go about their legitimate activities across the country safely.”
The Party challenged Nigerians to “use the joyful season to give and show love to our fellow men, particularly the needy and vulnerable among us,”, even as it called for “prayers and support for our selfless security and other essential services massively deployed around the country to ensure safe travel and yuletide festivities.”
Nigerians Should Focus On National Rebirth – PDP
In its Christmas message, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged Nigerians to use the season to reinforce their determination for national rebirth, stressing that all citizens must unite and show love to one another, in line with the party’s mission to “rescue and rebuild the nation from misrule”.
The message by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party was “deeply worried that in the last six years, Nigerians have been forced to mark Christmas in the gloom, pain, anguish, and utter despondency following excruciating economic hardship and worsened insecurity.”
“The PDP is saddened that while people celebrate in other parts of the world, many Nigerian families could not afford the basic items of celebration or even travel, as they did in the past, to meet and bond with their loved ones due to high costs, worsened insecurity and deplorable state of roads which are now death traps in our country”, he said.
However, the PDP charged Nigerians to brace up and not allow the suffering of today to dampen or destroy their inner personalities as happy people, adding that it is important not to lose sight of the “message of hope, salvation and brighter future” which Christmas offers. – With the Nation reports
