In this piece Okuofu Osilama,
a Naij.com opinion writer, writes on”Maiduguri And The Landing Of Eagle
One”, which gives details about President Jonathan’s visit to Borno
state.
Clad in babariga atop what clearly was bullet-proof vest, President
Goodluck Jonathan walked into the heat and dust of Maiduguri yesterday
on a surprise visit
to Borno State. Received by the governor of the state, Mr. Jonathan visited the camp of the internally displaced persons, IDPs, due to the insurgency in the North East of Nigeria. At the camp, Mr. Jonathan hugged little children and carried babies whilst taking time to talk to mothers cradling infants.
During his formal address, he assured the IDPs that government was doing all it can to reclaim their towns presently being occupied by the insurgent group, Boko Haram, as the military was gaining some grounds in the fight against the terrorist group. He assured them that while at the camp, all their needs would be met and when they eventually return home, government would support them in rebuilding their lives again.
Coming on the heels of the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Mr. Jonathan paid glowing tribute to our military fighting daily to keep us safe. He assured them that government will equip them adequately to propagate this war and achieve victory. He delivered the goodwill message of a grateful nation to our brave men and women at harm’s way.
Some analysts have termed this visit and show of support especially to our military a good one especially taken against the backdrop that in 2013, the President had to cancel a planned visit to the region at the last minute clearly on security grounds and since then has not visited either the troops or Nigerians who suffered terrorist attacks. Some however see this move as politically motivated given that this is the season of elections and would necessitate campaigning.
Whatever the case, what is pertinent is that atlast the ice has thawed and the IDPs would be glad that their President has not forgotten them while the troops would be gingered and motivated seeing their Commander-in-Chief rooting for them up close. This is a time to pull together as a nation to fight what is clearly a common enemy that is now essentially external. That Nigeria is at war with hostile neighbouring countries should no longer be in doubt. The recent capture and killing of mercenaries from Chad is pointer to this.
What we should not do is fight amongst ourselves bickering over inconsequential topics. Now is the time to rally round our President and pray for our troops while sparing a thought for our brothers and sisters who have sadly become displaced within their own country as a result of terrorism and jealous external aggression clad in Boko Haram insurgency and run the further risk and indignity of being disenfranchised in the forthcoming elections.
Today’s Twitter rant by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Education Minister & new rights activist of the BringBackOurGirls fame referring to Mr. Jonathan’s visit as a deceit is beyond the pale and unhelpful. She has often lampooned Mr. Jonathan for not visiting Chibok, Baga and other places where the terrorist group has wrecked havoc. This is clearly a case of ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’. It is important that we tone down our rhetoric on issues bordering on national security especially when taken against the back drop that we are not privy to certain details which may have made it ill-advised for our number one citizen to visit the region before now just to be politically correct.
The world was aghast recently when President Obama of the US failed to attend the march in Paris against terrorism alongside other world leaders in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo and the Jew Supermarket attacks but the American Secret Service was not going to jeopardise the life of the President of America because of a showcase event symbolic only in defiance. We must not forget in a hurry what caused the war between the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda and the genocide which followed; a pogrom the world is still ashamed of decades after. Issues of National Security are on a ‘need to know’ basis and we must not play politics with it.
Yesterday’s visit by the President of Nigeria should be a watershed moment which should be a catalyst for healing and national cohesion not division; the very thing the enemies of our collective destinies want. May God bless this Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
to Borno State. Received by the governor of the state, Mr. Jonathan visited the camp of the internally displaced persons, IDPs, due to the insurgency in the North East of Nigeria. At the camp, Mr. Jonathan hugged little children and carried babies whilst taking time to talk to mothers cradling infants.
During his formal address, he assured the IDPs that government was doing all it can to reclaim their towns presently being occupied by the insurgent group, Boko Haram, as the military was gaining some grounds in the fight against the terrorist group. He assured them that while at the camp, all their needs would be met and when they eventually return home, government would support them in rebuilding their lives again.
Coming on the heels of the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Mr. Jonathan paid glowing tribute to our military fighting daily to keep us safe. He assured them that government will equip them adequately to propagate this war and achieve victory. He delivered the goodwill message of a grateful nation to our brave men and women at harm’s way.
Some analysts have termed this visit and show of support especially to our military a good one especially taken against the backdrop that in 2013, the President had to cancel a planned visit to the region at the last minute clearly on security grounds and since then has not visited either the troops or Nigerians who suffered terrorist attacks. Some however see this move as politically motivated given that this is the season of elections and would necessitate campaigning.
Whatever the case, what is pertinent is that atlast the ice has thawed and the IDPs would be glad that their President has not forgotten them while the troops would be gingered and motivated seeing their Commander-in-Chief rooting for them up close. This is a time to pull together as a nation to fight what is clearly a common enemy that is now essentially external. That Nigeria is at war with hostile neighbouring countries should no longer be in doubt. The recent capture and killing of mercenaries from Chad is pointer to this.
What we should not do is fight amongst ourselves bickering over inconsequential topics. Now is the time to rally round our President and pray for our troops while sparing a thought for our brothers and sisters who have sadly become displaced within their own country as a result of terrorism and jealous external aggression clad in Boko Haram insurgency and run the further risk and indignity of being disenfranchised in the forthcoming elections.
Today’s Twitter rant by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Education Minister & new rights activist of the BringBackOurGirls fame referring to Mr. Jonathan’s visit as a deceit is beyond the pale and unhelpful. She has often lampooned Mr. Jonathan for not visiting Chibok, Baga and other places where the terrorist group has wrecked havoc. This is clearly a case of ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’. It is important that we tone down our rhetoric on issues bordering on national security especially when taken against the back drop that we are not privy to certain details which may have made it ill-advised for our number one citizen to visit the region before now just to be politically correct.
The world was aghast recently when President Obama of the US failed to attend the march in Paris against terrorism alongside other world leaders in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo and the Jew Supermarket attacks but the American Secret Service was not going to jeopardise the life of the President of America because of a showcase event symbolic only in defiance. We must not forget in a hurry what caused the war between the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda and the genocide which followed; a pogrom the world is still ashamed of decades after. Issues of National Security are on a ‘need to know’ basis and we must not play politics with it.
Yesterday’s visit by the President of Nigeria should be a watershed moment which should be a catalyst for healing and national cohesion not division; the very thing the enemies of our collective destinies want. May God bless this Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Recall that the issue of corruption is one that can never be over flogged in discussions and
as the General Elections draw nearer the front runners of the
Presidential elections, Gen. Buhari of the All Progressive Party (APC)
and President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
have in various capacities argued that their opponents are corrupt.
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