BOKO HARAM AND ITS WAR AGAINST THE NORTHEAST - NIGERIA Since it has become inevitable for Nigeria to launch a full-scale war against the insurgents, President Jonathan should do just this and reclaim all the territories that have been lost to the sect. The government has to be decisive and forceful to stop insurgents from killing Nigerians at will, abducting women and claiming some of the nations territories. This war has, indeed, gone beyond what can be handled with kid gloves. It has gone far beyond a police action. This government has to do something urgently to defend Nigerians, whether the presidents request for further emergency rule in the war-torn North- East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa is granted or not by the National Assembly. He can rely on Section 218 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which clearly states that: The powers of the President as the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation. Let the president explore this to restore peace in all trouble spots in the North-East. Nigerians are tired of the daily killings and maiming of their fellow countrymen, women and children by insurgents. They want an end to the ongoing madness. The military should also take immediate action on its floundering image and flush out the terrorists from every part of the country. If doing this requires an absolute reversal of tactics, let it be done. All Nigerians should see the ongoing war against the sect as their own and join hands with government to defeat the insurgents. We have passed the blame-game stage in this war. This is time for decisive action against terrorism and all forms of criminality in the land. The government, Nigeria Police and our courts should ensure that those arrested for terrorism are promptly prosecuted and adequately punished, if convicted. Let government also go after the sponsors of this insurgency to cut their supply of funding and equipment. FEMI ARATOKUN.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 07:07:13 +0000
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