Boko Haram’s days are numbered — Amb. Eke on April 06, 2014 at 12:10 am in Crime Alert By Dotun Ibiwoye Amb. Solomon D.O Eke, a consultant on international intelligence and conflict resolution and President, National Liberational Democratic Task Force, a security organization which supported the West African multinational military outfit, ECOMOG, with intelligence on Liberia, Sierra Leone and other countries in the sub region, in this interview, speaks on Boko Haram and the country after 100 years of amalgamation. Excerpts: As a security expert, what do you feel government can do to curb Boko Haram insurgency because people now feel the state of emergency declared in the three northern states is not having impact? Looking into what is called state of emergency, I could have advised the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the Senate and the House of Representatives to put heads together with the service chiefs to redesign the concept in the troubled states. It is not supposed to be a haphazard state of the emergency. I call for a full military declaration in the states. This will help to curb the Boko Haram insurgency. When one takes a critical look at Boko Haram and analyze the insurgents actions, you will observe that northerners are not happy with the situation. Why must somebody who claim to be fighting for Allah and the Holy Quran go ahead to kill his brothers, sisters killing and innocent children? I am not a Muslim, but I am so sure that there is no place in the Quran that asks them to slaughter innocent human beings, destroy cities or even disturb the peace of the country. It is evil men that sent them and is happy that the President is having sleepless nights over this issue. The enemy of progress is the opposition, the so-called mad politicians who want to use this opportunity to discredit this administration. The President is having sleepless nights over this issue. He is not resting; he is always bringing one idea or the other and he is making huge financial commitments. In this war against terrorists, the strength and intelligence of the military cannot be over emphasized. The President is also calling on people in different parts of the world that could help, yet, people go about blackmailing him saying all sorts of things. During a conference recently, I told Nigerians that very soon, there will be no name again called Boko Haram in Nigeria. The insurgents will surely be brought to judgment and those sponsoring them will have themselves to blame because they will be flushed out. Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable because I am an advocate of peace and unity. So you mean politicians and sponsors of the insurgents will capitulate? Imagine someone who is the chief executive officer of a state saying Boko Haram is better equipped than the army. Well, that is his own opinion. I am so sure he will eventually apologise because the army is highly equipped even more than any army in West Africa. I am so sure the army, in no distant time, will wipe out the insurgents and there will be victory parade. If you observe, in most guerilla warfare, the professional army will avoid as little civilian casualty as possible. This is what the army has been avoiding. Avoiding that does not mean they don’t have the strength, they don’t just want large civilian casualty. So they are using a tactic that is acceptable even to the international community and they will definitely succeed. Several Nigerians say the centenary was not worth celebrating. They spoke against the backdrop of the security and socio-political situation in the country? I want to put it this way, because the father does not have money does not prevent him from making arrangement for the children to celebrate during festive season or Christmas. This centenary celebration, no matter how we see it, is a glorious one. It is an inevitable celebration, no good leader will want to abort this kind of event. If you fail to do so, the land will ask him questions, the wind that blows will question him also. 100 years go with a spiritual phenomenon. To any nation, that celebration stands like a sort of sacrifice that must be made. For 100 years to be a reality, there are things that are unavoidable. There are certain celebrations that no matter what happens, you must do it. It is good to celebrate and to send a message to the world or any bad neighbour who does not wish Nigeria good. Despite all the problems we are facing as a nation, we are still able to celebrate 100 years.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 09:01:18 +0000
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