By Akinwale Kasali
Nigerians are in shock over the serious allegation made against the Military, by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.
The Governor escaped death by whiskers when his convoy ran into an ambush by several gunmen who descended on them, firing from all angles.
Everybody thought the near-fatal attack, which saw Zulum being smuggled into a Police armoured car, was carried out by the Boko Haram, a group which has been tormenting the Northern part of Nigeria for years.
But the Governor has absolved the group.
Zulum alleged that last week’s attack on his convoy was carried out by the Military.
The Governor’s convoy was attacked in Baga, while on his way to some internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Kukawa local government area of the state.
Speaking with reporters, Zulum attributed it to a sabotage from the army.
Zulum: “You heard what happened at Baga. It is a complete sabotage. The issue is not about the President. The soldiers and equipment are on ground. We have a total number of about 1,181 soldiers in Baga. I think the problem is in the command or control structure which has to be looked into.
“I cannot end my interview without clearly stating what happened. As far as I am concerned, there was no Boko Haram inside the town. That was a serious shooting by the Nigeria armed forces who are residing in Baga. The situation is very embarrassing.
“I think we shall give them some sufficient time because Baga is very important. The shores of the Lake Chad provide employment opportunities to about 10 million people in the north-east.”
This is not the first time Zulum is pointing accusing fingers at the Army of unwholesome behaviour.
In January, he accused the troops of extorting money from road users, which he alleged led to hatred against him by the Military.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari have summoned the 36 State Governors, alongside the Service Chiefs to deliberate on the nation’s worsening economic situation.
Asishana Bayo Okauru, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, NGF, in an invitation sent out to the governors on Tuesday, said the states’ Chief Executives would discuss last weekend’s attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, by Boko Haram insurgents in Baga local government area of the state.
Issues relating to health and economy will also be discussed at the meeting.
“The Governors’ planned meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari is to find a quick solution to the cause of this problem”.
The governors are expected to come up with a position; or a wayforward on how to address the security challenges as they have scheduled to have a marathon meeting with the leadership of Nigeria’s security.
“Those to be met by the governors are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd); Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
“The four Service Chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Marshal Ibok- Ette Ibas.”
But Nigerians say they are tired of such meetings, and are not looking forward to the outcome. To them, it has become a secular sermon. They have lost confidence in the security architecture in the country, and are looking forward to a change of guards. They want the Service Chiefs removed, and replaced.
Such Nigerians are in agreement with the National Assembly which has not only asked for their removal, but passed a resolution to the effect.
But President Muhammadu Buhari thinks otherwise. Even though he had, in two occasions told them that there best was not good enough, he has been very reluctant to remove them.
On Tuesday, at a meeting with National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chief, he ordered “a rejig of the Nigeria’s Security Architecture”.
What he meant has not been decided.
