December 07, (THEWILL) — So much public praise has been heaped on the government for the appointment of General Christopher Musa as new Minister of Defence; the choice, the relevant CV and experience of the General.
As someone with sound logistic and administrative experience forged as Chief of Defence Staff, who fought terrorists under Lafia Doyle troops in Borno State, holding uncompromising views about bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, General Musa is the man for the Defence Ministerial job. His coming at a time when insecurity has become a hydra-headed problem, defying the several approaches at ending it, is a welcome development. This next step should signify a desire for a new approach to the obviously unworkable and perhaps taxing plan that had failed to address the insecurity in the country.
However, this new approach with the General’s coming should go beyond symbolic gestures. The 250 pupils of St Mary’s Catholic School who are still in captivity, the officially decided and approved probe into the unexplained killing of Gen Musa Uba and his men by ISWAP terrorists and the commander who gave order for the withdrawal of troops detailed to guide Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, is a ready platform for General Musa and the government to begin afresh the renewed fight against terror-related killings in the country.
Truth be told, government need to wake up to the reality that the so -called sovereignty that it has held up in defence against the threat from President Donald Trump of the United States of America to intervene in the country over alleged Christian genocide, belongs to the people. And not the elected or appointed elite, more or less the governing class. And if the people have become the victims of untamed terrorists, the very essence of government within the territory overridden by terrorists, becomes questionable.
It is noteworthy, therefore, that the Minister has shown the way to go by taking two key decisions that are a welcome departure from the past when often weak, cloudy and pacifist messages emboldened, rather than tame the terrorists. His decision that henceforth there would be no negotiations with terrorists and a standing order to troops to shoot terror-related criminals at sight are frontal and carry some fire power that will send the correct signal to any daredevil that the erstwhile party is over. On the other hand, the government must publish the names and organisations financing the terrorists as a component of the Minister’s plan on total war against the terrorists.
Moreover, the decisions of governors, religious and traditional rulers as well as the National Assembly during their recent meetings to support the ongoing efforts to tackle the current menace should provide the new Minister the collective support to enable him deliver on his mandate.
These are trying times for Nigerians. Appointed and elected officials must seat up and deliver on their core mandate, which is to secure the life and property of Nigerians and cater to their welfare. This opportunity has come for all of them to change the sad narratives of death, sorrow and blood. No more excuses.
