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Tuesday 25 February 2014

What Does the APC Want?



I just read a National Daily where the APC condemed President Goodluck Jonathan's comment against governor Kashim Shettima of Bornu State.I could not help but laugh at the level of ignorance this party keeps displaying time and time again.
Few weeks ago,Shettima made a comment after an attack launched by  Boko Haram.The governor said''Honestly,Boko Haram are better armed and better motivated than our own troops.And believe me,i am an eternal optimist,as i have always said but i am also a realist.Given the present state of affairs,it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram''.Before i proceed,let me also register my disappointment in this statement credited to a Chief Security Officer whose State has been at the recieving end of numerous attacks from insurgents.
President Jonathan during a Media Chat yesterday expressed his disappointment in Shettima's comment when he said''The statement is a little bit unfortunate because you don't expect a governor to make that kind of statement and if the governor of Bornu State feels that the Nigerian Armed Forces are not useful,he should tell Nigerians.I will pull them out for one month;whether he will stay in that his government house;just one month,but i will fly back to take over the state''.
I am yet to understand how this comments made by Mr. President translate to a threat.Shettima's statement definitely meant all or one of the following:
  • That the Nigerian Armed Forces were not useful
  • That Bornu State could do without the presence of the Armed Forces
  • That the insurgents were winning the battle and
  • That the Nigerian Armed Forces could not successfully defeat an enemy if we were engage in a war.
Therfore,the comments made by the President were no threats,instead,he was stating the obvious in saying he was going to remove the Armed Forces from Bornu State only if Shettima would confirm to Nigerians that they were not needed.If the President is deploying troops,providing them with logistics and having sleepless nights while the governor of an affected state goes about making such utterances,then there is no better definition of sabotage.That being so,it is the APC who owe Nigerians an apology not Mr.President.
The APC ought to know that the battle against terrorist is not only physical but also psychological.Shettima's utterances are a psychological boast to the insurgents.
How come each time the government records a victory against the insurgents,APC does not release a press statement commending the government's effort?The opposition have to change from being an empty and desperate group of talkatives,to being useful tools for national development.
Honestly,our attitude needs to change.Nigerians should speak about the terrorist from the point of view of arousing national consciousness to confront them instead of presenting them as some role models or great fighters that should be feared.


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