President Muhammadu Buhari has, once again, assured the people of the North-East region that the present administration would sustain the ongoing onslaught against terrorists and bring security to all parts of the country.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, said this after a courtesy visit to the President by the Borno and Yobe States elders’ forum.
The delegation, Zulum said, was in Abuja to thank the president because of the workable steps taken by the federal government to restore peace to the region. Zulum, however, said that the region, still, needs more from the president.
“…we came here to thank Mr. President and to ensure increased military and para-military presence in Borno and Yobe states and indeed the entire North-east subregion with a view to ensuring security of the nation,” he said.
The region, like the remaining five, the governor said, also requested for more infrastructure and humanitarian support.
“In terms of improving social and economic situations of the region, we have also requested increased government support,” he said.
And, as a matter of fact, multiple and diverse supports, from the Federal Government and other sources, are needed in that ravaged region. For ten years, the Nigerian authorities have engaged the terror group Boko Haram in the North-east, making little headway.
The situation worsened with the emergence of Islamic State in West Africa and, in more recent times, banditry and kidnap gangs all over the northern Nigeria region.This is not, however, suggesting that the military has failed. Far from that. But the government must show the will to fight the terrorists, bandits and other criminals and deal decisively with corruption.
Cases of alleged perpetrator of corruption which have been serially made against the military and civilian personnel involved in the effort to defend Nigeria, must be dealt with if any meaningful progress is to be made in the fight against criminal elements and their activities.
After all, some military leaders have been accused of nepotism and of giving away vital details to compromise the onslaught against the terror gangs. The Borno State governor had previously accused the military of sabotage in an attack on his convoy.
Other than that, some senior soldiers and their civilian counterparts directing the war, it is alleged, have come to see the war budget as an endless means to draw money for personal enrichment. In fact, this allegation was recently reiterated by Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who said that the military doesn’t appear to want the war ended.
There are many allegations of counter-terrorism or so-called counter-insurgency funds stolen by some highly placed security personnel.
However, it should be pointed out that the government and security personnel, on their own, cannot defeat terrorism and other forms of criminality. Thus, Nigerians must join the efforts to defend their country and, essentially, put aside their differences and be united in the struggle against terrorism.
No doubt, some successes in dealing with Boko Haram and other terrorists have been achieved since the Buhari-led administration came on board in 2015. Between mid-2015 and late 2016, especially, the Federal Government moved the terror and counter-terror “situation room” to Maiduguri, the heart of the crisis.
The military halted the expansion of the Boko Haram so-called “Caliphate” and took back the 14 local governments seized by the terror group. Flights and normal business returned to most parts of the North-east. Attacks stopped and the military claimed that Boko Haram was technically defeated.
But then, just when it seemed the menace of Boko Haram had been ended by sheer military force, the Federal Government suggested dialogue with terrorists and other criminals and payment of ransom to them. The result of that is the return of aggression and violence in northern Nigeria, a problem that has yet to be addressed.
Probably, when the government introduced dialogue and negotiation and payment of ransom, it re-energised the terrorists and their groups.
In fact, some analysts argue that the Buhari-led administration got weakened when it began considering amnesty for repentant members of the Boko Haram group and swapping their prisoners for release of innocent Nigerian and foreign captives.
Ultimately, all Nigerians want all forms of criminality ended but the government has the responsibility to provide genuine leadership in the war.
The truth is, it is only the armed forces that have the arsenals and training to fight Boko Haram and other such groups, and should lead vanguard to secure Nigeria.
Projecting Nigeria’s image, upholding standards abroad
President Muhammadu Buhari, this week, urged ambassadors-designate, consuls-general, charge’ d’ affaires to project the strengths of Nigeria, showcase priorities of the government and uphold standards that will bring honour to the country.
Speaking virtually from the State House at the Induction /Orientation Exercise for Ambassadors-Designate, Consuls-General and Charge’ D’ Affaires Entitre held at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) auditorium, the president told the diplomats to always be mindful of the policy direction of the government, particularly the nine priorities it had listed.
“You must not forget that you have been posted to your respective bilateral and multilateral missions to represent and project Nigeria as a great and indivisible nation and a very attractive investment destination,” the president said.
No doubt, the president’s advice to the diplomats is apt, after all, ambassadors have a wide range of responsibilities dealing with foreign relations. Each task is carried out in a diplomatic manner that’s made to meet the needs of the ambassador’s home country while keeping a positive relationship with the host country.
As the president has pointed out and we hope that the diplomats will understand, one of the most important responsibilities of an ambassador is to notify their home country of any economic and political developments in the host nation. They write detailed reports in order to communicate foreign development, especially in the area of trade policies.
Because of their unique relationship with the host nation, ambassadors are able to help in the development of foreign policy with that nation.
All of these actions are meant to protect their home country’s interests within the host nation.
Even though the ambassador might not claim credit for completed peace treaties or trade deals as the final version is usually the product of extensive negotiations in which the ambassador is intimately involved, ambassadors are expected to be salespeople for their country’s business.
As representatives, they take their country to the outside world and bring the outside world to their country while they offer their home country’s position on any political, social and economic platforms.
Therefore, like the president said, the new ambassadors should “strive to promote trade, human capacity development, foreign direct investment and other areas of cooperation with countries at national and multilateral levels to support our national growth and development.”
They should, ideally, try to leverage on available opportunities to help deliver prosperity to millions of Nigerian citizens at home and the country they are posted to.
Very important too, the ambassadors should, with respect, attend to Nigerian citizens who may visit their mission seeking services with utmost dignity and promptness, and provide assistance with courtesy, commitment and efficiency.
Doing so will raise the profile of Nigerians living abroad and, ultimately, portray the country as a responsible one among its peers.
