Buhari marks Nigeria @ 57 with troops in Maiduguri

Osinbajo wants leaders to take responsibility towards nation’s building
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

In his usual way of boosting the morale of men and officers of the Nigerian military, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday marked the 57th Independence anniversary in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital with a visit to troops of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ involved in the fight against Boko Haram in the North- East Buhari, who was received on arrival by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettim alongside service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Gabriel Olonishakin landed at the Nigerian Air Force base in Maiduguri.

The President and Governor Shettima then boarded a waiting chopper to the parade ground of Maimalari Army Cantonment where a joint ilitary outfit, codenamed ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ as well as the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army both have their operational headquarters. Buhari, inspected a guard of honour and parade by troops before addressing soldiers, policemen and paramilitary personnel involved in fighting Boko Haram in Borno State. In his address, Buhari said the efforts put in place by security forces in sustaining peace, unity and progress of Nigeria as an indivisible country is highly commendable.

He pledged federal government’s continuous support for troops of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ to end lingering crisis of insurgents and terrorism in the north east.

He said, “We are here today in Borno State to interact Continued from page 1 with you (troops) and to celebrate the 57th Independence Day anniversary. I want to commend you for your sacrifices in the fight against insurgents.

I am here as a morale booster and I assure you that we will continue to do our best to support you in the frontline and end all forms of terrorism in our dear country.

“We as government will continue to improve on the economy to create jobs for the teaming youths. We are also determined to kick corruption out of this country. I was a state governor sometimes ago and Borno was my base.

At that time, nobody thought Borno would witness any crisis, but I want to reiterate that we will do our best to restore peace in any part of this great country.”

After addressing the troops, the President cut the anniversary cake and interacted with soldiers wounded in action including Sergeants Owen Eze who was shot on the neck during an operation in Gwoza. Earlier in his welcome address, CDS Olonisakin appreciated President Buhari for his decision to celebrate the 57th Independence Anniversary with gallant troops who have all sacrificed their lives in the fight against Boko Haram Sect.

He said, “This visit by Mr. President is really a morale booster to us on the frontline. In the last two years, the people in the North -East witnessed series of wanton killings and destruction of properties by insurgents, but we are glad for the relative peace being enjoyed now.

And this could not have been achieved without the tremendous support we have been receiving from Mr. President.” Other heads of security establishments present during the President’s visit include the Chief of Army Staff ( COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chiefs of Air and Naval Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Alhaji Lawal Daura among others.

Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has urged Christian leaders to take responsibility towards nation building by giving their best in service to humanity in line with the teachings of the holy scriptures. Osinbajo made the callon Sunday during the Interdenominational Church Service to mark the 57th anniversary of the country in Abuja.

Osinbajo said: “We thank the Almighty God for preserving our lives to see yet another birthday of this great nation and I wish you all a happy 57th anniversary and happy Independence Day. Who does God holds responsible for the destiny of nations? They are the people whom Jesus said ‘you are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’, a people who are charged with sweetening the bitterness of hates, of selfishness and tribes.

“They are people described by the scripture in 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. “It is these same people whom Jesus Christ empowered and commanded in the following words: “All authorities have been given to me in heaven and on earth, and to these people he said, go therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded them and lo! I am with you always until the end of the earth.”

The Vice President further emphasized that “It is these same people that God has commanded to teach the world all that he has commanded: a portion of those commandments say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your strength and love your neighbour as yourself. And so, the responsibility of making sacrifices for nation, falls upon these people. And the scripture in Matthew chapter 5:38-43, says, ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh you, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I said to you love your enemy.’ God sends rain to both the just and the unjust. Vengeance is mine says the Lord. We are the salt of the earth, we are the burden bearer of our nation and we have the mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at Liberty those who are oppressed.

Osinbajo also quoted the scripture to back up his claim, saying that there is the need for the leaders to offer selfless service and ensure the unity of the country. He said, “ We are to teach our nation unity by uniting the Body of Christ. Within the body there is no denomination, within the body there is no ethnicity, within the body there is group, all are one in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the responsibility of everyone of us who is named after the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our nation is at a point where Christians are told to stand up and do what the scripture has commanded us to do, our nation is at a point where we (Christians) have to teach our nation the virtue which Jesus Christ taught us: which is love and forgiveness.”

Some of the leaders present at the church service include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasano, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, state governors, ministers, top military officers and other important personalities