The presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to restore Nigeria’s lost glory if he emerges as the next president of the country in the March 28 election.
Speaking at Chatham House, London, on Thursday on the topic: “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition,” Mr. Buhari while specifically talking about the insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country said the Nigerian government’s handling of the Boko Haram terrorist made the country and its military a laughing stock.
The former head of state said as a retired general, he is well acquainted with the state of the military in the past and recalled its heroic adventures in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world.
“But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue.
“Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service.
“we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with; we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.
“We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism,” he said.
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