Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of
Journalism, (NIJ) Lagos, Mr. Jide Johnson has stated that the Military
cannot deliver on its promise to end the Boko Haram insurgency by
December 2015.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had in September, insisted that the military was determined to end Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria by December, in accordance with President Buhari’s directive. “I want to reassure Nigerians that Nigerian Army is ever determined to succeed in meeting up with the set deadline of defeating Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year,’’ he said.
However, in this interview with Greennews.ng’s Daniel Fayemi, Mr. Johnson said that the Army was being insincere with Nigerians by making unrealistic claims that will only leave Nigerians disappointed after the expiration of the December deadline.
What is your take on the state of the Nation at 55?
“We are making progress, no doubt. But the issue of security and the threat of terrorism needs to be addressed, all hands needs to be on deck. It is not a problem that started now and it is not a problem that can be solved immediately. It requires a holistic approach and sincerity.
“I think what has been lacking with public governance in Nigeria is the sincerity of those in government to tell us the true state of situations. If this had happened in America, they give daily briefings, comprehensive information as regards what the government is doing in order to assuage the feelings of the people in order to boost the confidence and morale of the people in going about their normal activities. I will advise Government to be open to tell people what exactly they are doing instead of making general remarks like ‘we are winning the war’ and so on.
But The Military has said that Boko Haram will be no more by December
“Even United States that moved into Iraq, have they solved the problem of Al-Qaeda or ISIS? Britain moved into Libya to oust Gaddafi, what do we have there? I keep making reference to anyone that cares to listen anytime this issue comes up, go and read page 8 of Obasanjo’s letter to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, then the president of the federal republic on December 2, 2013. Check the last paragraph in page 8 then you will see the totality of what needs to be done concerning Boko Haram.
“Which Nation do you think wins guerrilla warfare? You can win the war and loose the battle for the mind and soul of your people. Can you go to Maiduguri as you are seated here? For me, that is just propaganda and we don’t need that. What we need is sincerity of purpose.
So you are saying that the Military cannot flush out Boko Haram by December?
“They can’t! Go and read that letter. The issue of Boko Haram is deep seated, it is beyond religion. There is gun trafficking, money laundering and there is human trafficking, like Obasanjo highlighted in his letter and it requires a carrot and stick approach, all hands have to be on deck. You need to engage the local community in order to win a war. No war as ever been won without engaging the local community in the warfare."
READ MORE @ http://greennews.ng/index.php/2015/10/07/military-can-never-defeat-boko-haram-by-december-jide-johnson/
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had in September, insisted that the military was determined to end Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria by December, in accordance with President Buhari’s directive. “I want to reassure Nigerians that Nigerian Army is ever determined to succeed in meeting up with the set deadline of defeating Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year,’’ he said.
However, in this interview with Greennews.ng’s Daniel Fayemi, Mr. Johnson said that the Army was being insincere with Nigerians by making unrealistic claims that will only leave Nigerians disappointed after the expiration of the December deadline.
What is your take on the state of the Nation at 55?
“We are making progress, no doubt. But the issue of security and the threat of terrorism needs to be addressed, all hands needs to be on deck. It is not a problem that started now and it is not a problem that can be solved immediately. It requires a holistic approach and sincerity.
“I think what has been lacking with public governance in Nigeria is the sincerity of those in government to tell us the true state of situations. If this had happened in America, they give daily briefings, comprehensive information as regards what the government is doing in order to assuage the feelings of the people in order to boost the confidence and morale of the people in going about their normal activities. I will advise Government to be open to tell people what exactly they are doing instead of making general remarks like ‘we are winning the war’ and so on.
But The Military has said that Boko Haram will be no more by December
“Even United States that moved into Iraq, have they solved the problem of Al-Qaeda or ISIS? Britain moved into Libya to oust Gaddafi, what do we have there? I keep making reference to anyone that cares to listen anytime this issue comes up, go and read page 8 of Obasanjo’s letter to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, then the president of the federal republic on December 2, 2013. Check the last paragraph in page 8 then you will see the totality of what needs to be done concerning Boko Haram.
“Which Nation do you think wins guerrilla warfare? You can win the war and loose the battle for the mind and soul of your people. Can you go to Maiduguri as you are seated here? For me, that is just propaganda and we don’t need that. What we need is sincerity of purpose.
So you are saying that the Military cannot flush out Boko Haram by December?
“They can’t! Go and read that letter. The issue of Boko Haram is deep seated, it is beyond religion. There is gun trafficking, money laundering and there is human trafficking, like Obasanjo highlighted in his letter and it requires a carrot and stick approach, all hands have to be on deck. You need to engage the local community in order to win a war. No war as ever been won without engaging the local community in the warfare."
READ MORE @ http://greennews.ng/index.php/2015/10/07/military-can-never-defeat-boko-haram-by-december-jide-johnson/
No comments:
Post a Comment