Boko Haram: APC Demands International Inquiry
by Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja
The Nation, Nigeria
THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has demanded an international inquiry into the country’s growing spread of Boko Haram insurgency.
He said Nigerians and the international community should be concerned about why efforts at curtailing the insurgents had not yielded the desired results.
The APC Chairman said it was possible that the insurgency was being used for political purposes.
Odigie-Oyegun made the demand while responding to questions from reporters at the party’s national secretariat after a briefing on the state of the nation.
He said it was unfortunate that having failed to protect Nigerians, especially those living in the Northeast, President Goodluck Jonathan was waiting to be elected for another four years before setting up a Special Force to fight Boko Haram.
Odigie-Oyegun said: “The issue of security is a fundamental challenge that is facing the nation. Boko Haram has been with us for almost a decade and has continued to grow in strength. We thought that a state of emergency would give our military the freedom to operate and so the nation supported the National Assembly when the President requested for a state of emergency.
“The state of emergency came and things have continued to degenerate. It is only logical that you ask yourself what could be wrong. As a matter of fact, we have on a number of times pleaded that an impartial international commission of inquiry be set up to look into this Boko Haram issue. Why is it what it is? Why is it growing at the rate it is growing?
“If necessary, tell us who are those behind it. Is it likely that the Boko Haram issue is now being exploited for political advantage? The more savage it is, the more they are allowed to threaten, the more they are allowed to progress, the more the people of this nation would feel the necessity to cling to the apron string of a failed government. It’s all blackmail, pure and simple.
“Between you and me, I want to say this. Nigerian troops have a world-wide reputation. Nigerian troops have confronted equally savage situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“They have paid with blood and dear lives to bring peace to other countries where the whole nation has broken down into total anarchy and succeeded. Why are we unable to succeed in our own backyard? Ask yourself that question”.
The APC said there might be some political motives behind the rising insurgency in the Northeast.
He said: “Who stands to benefit if three APC states are unable to effectively participate in the elections come February 15, 2015? Why is it that contrary to simple common-sense, they have been making this endless claim that they know those behind Boko Haram?
“A few days ago. The omnipotent Governor of Akwa Ibom State pronounced that they were not going to hand over to sponsors of Boko Haram. It is clear that the PDP knows who the sponsors of Boko Haram are. So, why are they not tackling them? What is stopping them from arraigning them before the court of law. In fact, Nigerians will help them tear the people to pieces so long as there is proof; reasonable proof.
“In any conflict situation, when a town is captured, you are told the level of destruction, the number of death on all sides. How come Mubi could be captured without a single shot being fired? How come our troops have been withdrawn from Mubi? How come the security agencies were not in Mubi? Who is benefiting from all of these? Please ask yourself: why?
“My take on this is that some people are gaining politically from the continuation of this crisis in the Northeast. Why can that be? Is it the APC or the PDP? Are we in control of the security forces? If you want me to pronounce it, let them get up and wipe out all the savages that have turned the Northeast into a graveyard.
“Everyday, we hear that our troops are not adequately armed. What is happening to the resources being deployed in armament? The last time, we heard about the $9.3 million and the $5.9 million carried in suit cases to South Africa to buy arms.
“We are a sovereign nation. We can bring into this country plane and ship loads of arms from China, Russia and even South Africa itself through legal means. So, why must you carry suitcases of dollars to South Africa to buy arms? What was the intention?
“For whom were the arms to be purchased meant for? Or, was it a simple act of money-laundering or was it for buying arms for reasons that may even have to do with the 2015 elections? Till today, we have not been told who were in that plane even though the government has taken ownership of the money. Who were the agents that were going to buy these arms?
“We are in a terrible situation and I hope that the people of this country and the media will like in the days of the June 12 saga stand up bravely, even though those were military times. But it looks like civilian dictatorship is even more dangerous than military dictatorship.
Odigie-Oyegun took time to explain what the APC would do differently, if elected into power in 2015.
He added: “What are we going to do differently? Our troops will not abandon their positions, but will fight back. We will build up reasonable intelligence. How can a suicide bomber get all the way to Niger State?
“It means that these people are operating all over the place. Where is our intelligence service?
“What we will do is to make the system work; to make the system function and responsive to the situation on ground and not probably ask troops to withdraw and hand over the barracks and what is left of the armoury.
“When these people are coming, they come with tanks and don’t walk on foot and so, they are not guerrillas. Whether we like it or not, what is going on is a conventional warfare. So, why is our government that wants four more years waiting until you re-elect them before they set up this special force?
“How long does it take to train that force? Let us face it and realise that something very serious is wrong in the Northeast and it can only lead to one direction.
“We elected them to protect us and make life better for all of us. They have done none of these and they want four more years. May God save Nigeria from their hands”.
On the manifesto of the party, he said: “I have said that we will interact on a weekly basis and what we are going to interact about is what we stand for on the issues of this nation. Security, power, education, agriculture and issues like that. In the process, you will get to know every bit of the details of our manifesto.
“Yes, we are going to have a great, big launching event because it is a very colorful little booklet which will be available to all persons. Within the next few weeks, I will be leading other officers on this issue of where the APC stands and what it will do for the Nigerian nation and if possible, put a time span on some of these things, by which we would want to be judged and challenged when the time comes”.
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| Nigeria opposition APC Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. |
The Nation, Nigeria
THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has demanded an international inquiry into the country’s growing spread of Boko Haram insurgency.
He said Nigerians and the international community should be concerned about why efforts at curtailing the insurgents had not yielded the desired results.
The APC Chairman said it was possible that the insurgency was being used for political purposes.
Odigie-Oyegun made the demand while responding to questions from reporters at the party’s national secretariat after a briefing on the state of the nation.
He said it was unfortunate that having failed to protect Nigerians, especially those living in the Northeast, President Goodluck Jonathan was waiting to be elected for another four years before setting up a Special Force to fight Boko Haram.
Odigie-Oyegun said: “The issue of security is a fundamental challenge that is facing the nation. Boko Haram has been with us for almost a decade and has continued to grow in strength. We thought that a state of emergency would give our military the freedom to operate and so the nation supported the National Assembly when the President requested for a state of emergency.
“The state of emergency came and things have continued to degenerate. It is only logical that you ask yourself what could be wrong. As a matter of fact, we have on a number of times pleaded that an impartial international commission of inquiry be set up to look into this Boko Haram issue. Why is it what it is? Why is it growing at the rate it is growing?
“If necessary, tell us who are those behind it. Is it likely that the Boko Haram issue is now being exploited for political advantage? The more savage it is, the more they are allowed to threaten, the more they are allowed to progress, the more the people of this nation would feel the necessity to cling to the apron string of a failed government. It’s all blackmail, pure and simple.
“Between you and me, I want to say this. Nigerian troops have a world-wide reputation. Nigerian troops have confronted equally savage situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“They have paid with blood and dear lives to bring peace to other countries where the whole nation has broken down into total anarchy and succeeded. Why are we unable to succeed in our own backyard? Ask yourself that question”.
The APC said there might be some political motives behind the rising insurgency in the Northeast.
He said: “Who stands to benefit if three APC states are unable to effectively participate in the elections come February 15, 2015? Why is it that contrary to simple common-sense, they have been making this endless claim that they know those behind Boko Haram?
“A few days ago. The omnipotent Governor of Akwa Ibom State pronounced that they were not going to hand over to sponsors of Boko Haram. It is clear that the PDP knows who the sponsors of Boko Haram are. So, why are they not tackling them? What is stopping them from arraigning them before the court of law. In fact, Nigerians will help them tear the people to pieces so long as there is proof; reasonable proof.
“In any conflict situation, when a town is captured, you are told the level of destruction, the number of death on all sides. How come Mubi could be captured without a single shot being fired? How come our troops have been withdrawn from Mubi? How come the security agencies were not in Mubi? Who is benefiting from all of these? Please ask yourself: why?
“My take on this is that some people are gaining politically from the continuation of this crisis in the Northeast. Why can that be? Is it the APC or the PDP? Are we in control of the security forces? If you want me to pronounce it, let them get up and wipe out all the savages that have turned the Northeast into a graveyard.
“Everyday, we hear that our troops are not adequately armed. What is happening to the resources being deployed in armament? The last time, we heard about the $9.3 million and the $5.9 million carried in suit cases to South Africa to buy arms.
“We are a sovereign nation. We can bring into this country plane and ship loads of arms from China, Russia and even South Africa itself through legal means. So, why must you carry suitcases of dollars to South Africa to buy arms? What was the intention?
“For whom were the arms to be purchased meant for? Or, was it a simple act of money-laundering or was it for buying arms for reasons that may even have to do with the 2015 elections? Till today, we have not been told who were in that plane even though the government has taken ownership of the money. Who were the agents that were going to buy these arms?
“We are in a terrible situation and I hope that the people of this country and the media will like in the days of the June 12 saga stand up bravely, even though those were military times. But it looks like civilian dictatorship is even more dangerous than military dictatorship.
Odigie-Oyegun took time to explain what the APC would do differently, if elected into power in 2015.
He added: “What are we going to do differently? Our troops will not abandon their positions, but will fight back. We will build up reasonable intelligence. How can a suicide bomber get all the way to Niger State?
“It means that these people are operating all over the place. Where is our intelligence service?
“What we will do is to make the system work; to make the system function and responsive to the situation on ground and not probably ask troops to withdraw and hand over the barracks and what is left of the armoury.
“When these people are coming, they come with tanks and don’t walk on foot and so, they are not guerrillas. Whether we like it or not, what is going on is a conventional warfare. So, why is our government that wants four more years waiting until you re-elect them before they set up this special force?
“How long does it take to train that force? Let us face it and realise that something very serious is wrong in the Northeast and it can only lead to one direction.
“We elected them to protect us and make life better for all of us. They have done none of these and they want four more years. May God save Nigeria from their hands”.
On the manifesto of the party, he said: “I have said that we will interact on a weekly basis and what we are going to interact about is what we stand for on the issues of this nation. Security, power, education, agriculture and issues like that. In the process, you will get to know every bit of the details of our manifesto.
“Yes, we are going to have a great, big launching event because it is a very colorful little booklet which will be available to all persons. Within the next few weeks, I will be leading other officers on this issue of where the APC stands and what it will do for the Nigerian nation and if possible, put a time span on some of these things, by which we would want to be judged and challenged when the time comes”.
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