The authorities of the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, have denied a statement
credited to the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, that the
military and security operatives would end the Boko Haram insurgency by April,
2014.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in
an electronic mail on Tuesday that the CDS’ comment was only a charge to the
new service chiefs to tackle the threat of the insurgency effectively in order
to avoid an extension of emergency rule in affected states by the National
Assembly in April.
He said that the charge by the CDS should not be interpreted to mean
that he was bragging and trying to create a false sense of hope.
Olukolade stressed that it was not possible for terrorism to be brought
to an end anywhere in the world with a specific directive.
He said that the CDS was aware of the complex nature of the problem of
terrorism and was optimistic that the problem could be brought under control
with the vigour and readiness of the new service chiefs when he made the
statement.
He said that the clarification became necessary in view of the public’s
reaction to the comment by Badeh that the Boko Haram insurgency would be a
thing of the past before April, 2014.
“The remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal AS Badeh
during the handing and taking over ceremony between him and the immediate-past
CDS on the need to end terrorism by April this year, has expectedly generated a
lot of comments, interpretation and reaction especially from the media. This
has necessitated a clarification in the interest of the general public and for
record purposes.
“The Defence Headquarters is concerned about the implications of the
varying interpretations and insinuations given to the remarks of the CDS which
was essentially directed to the new service chiefs.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the declaration was more of a charge to the
new service chiefs to brace up to the expediency of sufficiently defeating
terrorism and restore normalcy in all parts of the country to avert extension
after April.
“The CDS statement should not be mistaken for a false sense of hope or
mere grandstanding as have been imputed by some individuals. Ending
terrorism anywhere has never been and cannot be precisely determined by a
directive.
“The remarks by the CDS was meant to motivate commanders and troops to
work harder towards the restoration of normalcy as envisaged in the states
under emergency rule. Unfortunately, the charge has been taken too
literally to mean definite promise to end terrorism by April,” he said.
Badeh had said while taking over as the new Chief of Defence Staff from
his predecessor, Admiral Ola Ibrahim at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on
January 20, 2014, that the Boko Haram insurgency must be brought to an end
before April.
The CDS had challenged the new service chiefs to ensure that the
insurgency was brought to an end before April in order to avoid a
constitutional problem in the country.
“The security situation in the North East must be brought to a complete
stop before April 2014.
“We must bring it to a stop before April so that we will not have
constitutional problems on our hands.
“We don’t want to go back to the Senate to start begging and lobbying.
If we do our work cohesively, I can tell you General Minimah, you will finish
your work in no time.”
“I can assure you (Minimah) that the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief
of Air Staff will give you all the support you need. I can say
confidently that this war is already won,” he had said