Boko Haram - what is President Jonathans clear cut strategy? Even if you were a religious supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan, you could not help but be concerned that there is not a discernible, and clear cut strategy for containing the rampaging Boko Haram, let alone defeating the sect. In one week, the insurgents raged brutally attacking and seizing Bama within earshot of Maiduguri the Borno State capital, from Gwoza, which they had earlier sacked. Then blasting along the Cameroun border, the sect overran Pulka, Madagali, Gulak, Michika, and Bazza, not quite far from Mubi in Adamawa State. Even if you want to cheer the Nigerian military, known for bravery and gallantry in international operations, and out of patriotism, you find no reason to subdue your anxiety. If Boko Haram could slice through that much territory like a knife through butter, how far would the insurgents go before they are checkmated? And even as Boko Haram took Gwoza and announced that it had established a Caliphate, one would have expected that the Presidency would offer an explanation of failures and assurance to the nation that steps were being taken to recover the territory from the insurgents. When such devastating events occur, it is the norm for the President to give a State of the Nation address, if for anything, to allay fears of the populace and give assurance that the sovereignty of the nation is not in jeopardy. Sadly mum was the word. Any briefings by the Defence Headquarters fell flat in the face of the rather disheartening propaganda of the extremists, who are able to upload long minutes of boastful garb on social media, from location giving actuality to claims, and gaining more international media coverage than the Federal Government. How can you believe the report from the Defence Headquarters given under klieg lights and television cameras and the hum of air conditioning when you can see Boko Haram commanders firmly in occupied territory in boisterous boast? In contrast to the obnoxcious jingles that President Goodluck Jonathan is doing it just like President Barak Obama is doing it, we are served a strange photospeak of former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, President Jonathan, and the Tchadian President discussing cooperation against the terrorists. That picture is worth a thousand words, the size of another column. But is that how Barak Obama is doing it? Or is that how our neighbouring Tchad, Niger, and Cameroon are addressing their challenge of terrorism? Of course not. Americas Barak Obama talking tough on rampaging ISIS says on HIS strategy to deal with ISIS - What I want people to understand is that over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of ISIS, We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; were going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, were going to defeat them. President Barak Obama is no military man, but this language is the language of a commander in chief, albeit fed to him by his Military Command, but he delivers it with conviction because his entire honour, nay, the American Pride depends on it. Can President Goodluck Jonathan encapsulate for the world, a defined strategy on dealing withthe countrys insurgency challenge beyond sitting on top of the situation? Let us just even admit that we are copy cats. What is our copy of what President Obama has just said so that we can enjoy dancing to the TAN jingle, Jonathan is doing it, like Obama is doing it? When Gwoza fell, refugees trooped to Madagali. Madagali and Gulak fell in one swoop. Michika was next. Michika offered sanctuary only to fall by weekend. Suddenly there was influx to Mubi, which filled up overnight. Then Bazza after Michika fell. When Bazza fell, educational institutions in Mubi thought it wise to close, and close they did, triggering a stampede departure out of Mubi, with Yola as the next refugee destination. Today in Yola, refugees sleep on every available space, with every family member from the affected area housing not less than a dozen relations. Meanwhile, there is nothing but trepidation in Maiduguri, which is likewise, with the people merely encouraging one another to stay on, but knowing fully well that there is no certainty that the city can be defended should Boko Haram choose to take it. The President needs to speak to the nation. Why is the war on terror not succeeding as it should? Boko Haram which was a mere rag tag band of crudely armed men in 2002, have apparently surpassed the armed forces of oil rich Nigeria in military ordinance according to reports in foreign media. The reports also say that the troops lack morale and the will to fight sighting their disadvantages in equipment and welfare. Somehow, nobody is asking questions about the budgeted N1.3trn in 2013 for National security, and a similar provision for 2014. Somehow, the national nose-dive down the precipice appears of secondary importance to both the ruling party and the organised opposition. But clear also is that there is no political will to technically confront the situation, instead, the powers that be are more preoccupied with 2015, and this is at all levels, from the Presidency to the Governors. Imagine the political mood at the primaries of the Adamawa State party primaries for the bye elections, where delegate votes were being counted against the backdrop of an invading Boko Haram, for Gulak, Michika, and Bazza, the axis from which most of contestants came, fell that night. The nation is passing through tragic occurrences. Armed bandits have seized and are holding territory. If Barak Obama could tell Americans What I want people to understand is that over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of ISIS, We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities; were going to shrink the territory that they control; and, ultimately, were going to defeat them - President Goodluck Jonathan must speak to us.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:41:57 +0000
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