You promise to end Boko Haram, why the excuse — Residents to Buhari

Some residents have frowned against the excuses on the failure of the government to secure the country, Daily Times gathered.

In their reactions, the citizens argued that such excuses were just an afterthought after spending five years in office as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which were unacceptable to them.

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Recall, a few days back, President Muhammadu Buhari attributed the inability of his administration to crush Boko Haram in the North East to scarce resources and the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

In his speech during a meeting with the North East Governors Forum at the State House, the president said the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic had worsened the resources crisis.

According to him, “We have problems with resources and security. The government is doing its best but lack of resources has hit us very badly. COVID-19 is a fantastic phenomenon; it has no respect for colours, you can’t smell it, you can’t hear it.

 “I think we should all go back to God,” he said.

However, former Chairman of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr Ledum Mitee, described as a sign of failure the excuses given by President Muhammadu Buhari on why Boko Haram was still not fully defeated.

Mitee stated that the excuse was that of a bad labourer who blamed his tools for his failure to deliver, adding that the administration has failed the people.

“The very essence of government by Section 14 of our Constitution is the security and welfare of the citizens. Considering therefore the fact that huge resources are being spent or squandered for less important matters; coupled with the huge sums reportedly earmarked if not spent on the same issue, I am afraid that I would consider this an unacceptable excuse for failure.

“A bad labourer blames his tools according to an old saying. In any case, we have heard it being boasted by this same government several times that Boko Haram has been crushed, yet the activities of this terrorist group are escalating and even threatening other parts of the country.”

Iniruo Wills, President, Ijaw Professionals Association (Homeland Chapter) said: “No President and Commander-in-Chief has an excuse for the kind of insecurity in multifarious manifestation all over Nigeria.”

Oyinfie Jonjon, former President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide submitted: “Many proponents of the Buhari regime were strongly optimistic that the challenges of insecurity in the North East and other parts of the country would be brought under control as quickly as possible. But looking at the body language of the President, his inability to fire, change or retire his Service Chiefs and the high level of corruption, speak louder than the three pillars of his regime.

“An overview of the five years show that things are getting worse.”

Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener, South-South Reawakening Group, argued: “We all know there is a paucity of funds at the moment due largely to the global COVID-19 pandemic and global oil price slump that has had an adverse impact on the economy but before the COVID-19 pandemic the economy was doing well and one would have expected funds to be made available for the purchase of arms and ammunition to prosecute this war.

“But for me, I do not agree with the President’s position because we need fresh thinking and a new approach to end this war that is taking a toll on human and material resources.

“There shouldn’t be any excuses about money,” he noted.

For Alagoa Morris, a renowned Niger Delta environmentalist, “The president seems sympathetic to issues relating to this terrorist group. He was once nominated by the group as their spokesman, even though he rejected the offer.

“He had also advocated that the group should not be attacked by the past administration. His own administration has not demonstrated signs of dealing with Boko Haram as terrorists.

“COVID-19 just came to the equation this year; Boko Haram has outlived the President’s first tenure and during his campaigns, he promised to end Boko Haram within a year or so. So, why the talk about Covid-19 and related funds issues? he asked.”

(Punch)