By Adesina Soyooye
For Nigerians, hoping for a quick solution to the unprecedented insecurity in the country, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, rtd., says they should perish the hope.
He says it would take, at least, the next 20 years to deal with insecurity in Nigeria.
Buratai’s present stand runs contrary to the impression he always gave while he was in office as the COAS.
While in office, he usually said the terrorists had been decimated. And that the war on terrorism had been won, as the military was only clearing remnants of the terrorists. The song has changed, and the right tone public.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, APC, Bauchi North, on Thursday, Buratai said the situation goes beyond the Military.
The Senate Committee is screening Buratai and other immediate past Service Chiefs, nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as Non-career Ambassadors.
Warfare has permeated the society, he disclosed. He indicted the Government for leaving what he called many “ungovernable spaces.” Meaning: there is no Government presence in most rural communities hit most by terrorism.
Buratai: ” The Military alone cannot solve this. There should be hospitals, schools, roads and good governance. There are many ungovernable spaces in those areas.”
At the time of this report, the screening of the Service Chiefs, whose nomination, by the President, as Non-career Ambassadors drew mixed feelings, was still on-going.
