Buhari To Personally Lead Fight Against Boko Haram

Yemi Osinbajo, the running mate of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(rtd.), participating in the presidential elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed how they would tackle insurgency if elected.

Yemi Osinbajo

Speaking January 4 with Channels TV, the APC Vice Presidential candidate insisted that the former military Head of State would be the one to personally lead the fight against terrorism.
“Fighting insurgency requires the Commander in Chief to lead from the front by providing leadership.”

Th claim comes amid reports that Boko Haram militants are in control of 13 local government areas in the troubled area. There are fears that millions of people in the North-East might be deprived of the possibility to vote in February.



Buhari and Osinbajo, believed to be the major rivals of Goodluck Jonathan and Adamu Muazu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates, said that unlike their opponents they would not “politicize” the security challenge, Premium Times reports with reference to the exclusive interview.

“Instead of politicizing the issue, APC will galvanise all support and ensure that the threat to the territorial integrity of the country is put on check, and General Buhari will ensure that the entire nation is mobilized irrespective of party affiliation to solve the problem.

“We will not be looking for the faults of the PDP or accuse them of sponsoring it as is presently the case, everyone knows that the opposition today is not responsible for the insurgency.”
Osinbajo praised the Nigerian army that is according to him capable of wiping out “Boko Haram in days”. He vowed to provide the necessary equipment and conditions to make the fight effective.
“We have some of the best soldiers one can find anywhere… all you need is to equip them well.”

It would be recalled that one of the recent military scandals broke out in connection with death sentence verdict delivered in relation to 54 soldiers convicted of mutiny.
The soldiers who refused to join the operation argued that they did it because of lacking the appropriate weaponry.

Many called the proceedings and their outcome unfair and unjust. It was reported yesterday that the UN would attempt to communicate with the Nigerian authorities to halt the execution of the convicts.

Osinbajo, who is also a pastor, spoke about how his church service affects his work as a politician.
“The reason I function as a pastor is essentially because I want to touch the lives of as many people as possible with the love of Jesus Christ and we must, in every situation we find ourselves, be able to help the poor, be able to help those who can’t help themselves and stand up for justice.

“I will do same as a political leader. All of these roles must be played in the same way and with the same motivation. As far as I am concerned, it is all the same.”

Claiming that “the entire nation is tired of the state of things”, he promised that the APC would bring the needed change.