Like The Jonathan Govt, The Buhari Govt, Has Difficulties Importing Weapons To Fight Terrorism – FG Admits |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Finally, the Federal Government has admitted that it is having problems importing weapons to prosecute the war on terrorism and insurrection facing Nigeria virtually from all fronts.

Until now, it has been a well guarded secret, with the FG claiming that the Military was well equipped to fight the terrorism war, the cries and complaints from the frontlines by gallant soldiers over being ill-equipped notwithstanding.

It took the now controversial interview granted to the BBC, Hausa Service, by the National Security Adviser to the President, Rtd Major General Babagana Monguno, PhD, on Friday, for the truth to come out.

The Media was awash with Monguno’s interview where he was quoted to have said that some funds made available for the purchase of weapons to prosecute the war on terrorism were missing. He, allegedly, also, said that neither the wespons nor the funds have been traced, adding that the new Service Chiefs appointed by the President saw no such weapons.

The meaning: the immediate past Service Chiefs have some explanations to do.

What Monguno, allegedly, said has implications, especially, on Buhari’s anti- corruption war, and had attracted reactions and outrage like claps of thunder.

First, Monguno retracted, saying he was misquoted; that what he said was taken out of context;  that what he said was misinterpreted.

His retraction was to the outrage of many who said he was put under pressure to retract. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives say they would investigate Monguno’s allegation.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Rtd. Lt. General Tukur Buratai, issued a statement through his Lawyer, denying diverting funds, and said that any such questions should be directed to the Ministry of Defence. The former Exes have not said anything.

But it is the Presidency’s reaction through Garba Shehu, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity that exposed the difficulties the FG has been experiencing in importing weapons.

Insisting on the impossibility of such money missing under Buhari’s  watch, he explained, among other difficulties, that the weapons being imported from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, would need diplomacy to bring in. They are stuck there.

Shehu, appearing on a Channels TV programme said: ” As I speak to you, it ( weapons) is held up in a situation which only diplomacy will resolve.The Nigerian Minister of Defence actually had a meeting with the Ambassador of the UAE to Nigeria and the idea is  to resolve this so that these equipment held up will be released.”

Sounds familiar.

During the Goodluck Jonathan Government when the United States of America refused to sell arms to Nigeria for the war, and stopped their allies from doing so, mostly over allegations of human rights abuses against Nigeria’s military, propagated and given flesh by the then opposition, the Jonathan Government decided to buy from the Blackmarket in South Africa, something not strange to countries in such desperate situation.

Inexplicably, the South African Government seized the money, inspite of explanations by the then Government.  The opposition then, now in power, celebrated the unfortunate incident, and made it a campaign issue.

Now, that then boisterous opposition id wearing the same shoe, and has known where, and how it pinches.