A former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh on Tuesday said it is unnecessary for President Muhammadu Buhari to lead Nigeria’s military in an offensive against Boko Haram terrorists like Chadian President, Idriss Deby.
Following the success recorded by the Chadian army, many Nigerians have challenged President Buhari to live up to his calling as a retired Army General and emulate Deby, saying this will motivate the Nigerian troops and boost their morale in the war against insurgency.
However, speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Momoh, one of the national leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said as Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces, Buhari doesn’t need to lead the troops as he can monitor the military from anywhere he was.
“Every country has its own priorities. The fact that President Deby led Chadian troops to fight Boko Haram doesn’t mean he is at the war front and shooting guns. He was in the helicopter following them from place to place and they dealt with Boko Haram”.
“Buhari
doesn’t have to follow our troops; he can monitor them from wherever he
is. What do you people take Nigeria for? Look at the army, we have the
Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs who head different
operations; we also have commanders of different sectors. Which of them
will Buhari lead if he wants to go and confront Boko Haram?”
“The
fact is that Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief and he can monitor our
military wherever he is. Why should he go and lead the war himself? Is
it because he was a military president? What if he is a civilian
president? Will go and wear uniform and start lerading the army?”
“Are
you saying President Buhari should copy President Deby? Do you know the
population of Chad? Boko Haram has been attacking Nigeria from Chad but
when they now attacked Chadian army, the President led the Chadian army to tackle them.”
“Chadian army is a well-trained army in guerilla warfare. They have been fighting insurgency for years. There was a time they even entered Nigeria when Buhari was there in the early 80s but he drove them to Ndjamena before they stopped him.”
“So, Chadian army is a very hardened army, well groomed in desert and guerilla warfare. Chad also spent more money on arms and ammunition than any other challenges they have”, he said.
