A former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, has sounded a note of warning to Nigerians calling for a change of the present administration that nations don’t change wartime leaders, and as such calling for Nigerians to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan for another term in office so that he can finish up the great work he is doing.
According to Nwogu, the insurgency in the North East requires a full scale war to root out the violent Boko Haram Islamist group.
“What is happening in the North-East now demands full military action against the Boko Haram group. A group that has gone the length of carving out some portion of Nigerian land for itself, and has declared war on our sovereignty,” Nwogu said in an interview with Vanguard, aqdding that the group should not be handled with mercy.
He noted that the situation in the Northeast is a sore point in the history of the country.
“The ongoing war in the Northeast is undoubtedly a sore point in the nation’s history. Just as Nigeria is making progress in its economy and has been certified as Africa’s biggest economy, Boko Haram surfaced to test the capacity and content of the Nigerian leadership. The challenge of the insurgency is one that no Nigerian leader has ever had to confront.”
“Despite the multifarious distractions, nearly all Nigerians across tribe and tongue can now confidently assert that the Nigerian military is now roasting the insurgents after taking the war to them.”
“This is something I had consistently called for and I salute the gallantry of the Nigerian military and praise our men and women in uniform for the sacrifices that they are making for the unity of the nation.”
“This is, however, no opportunity for Nigerians to waver in the resolute determination that we have shown towards uprooting this ugly evil from our land.”
“Despite scepticism in some entrenched quarters, President Goodluck Jonathan has ably marshalled our forces in this critical effort to uproot the evil in our land and I enjoin Nigerians all over not to lose faith in the leadership.”
The former minister, who resigned his membership of the Federal Executive Council to contest the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ticket in his home state, however said he is about the effects politics may have on the war in the Northeast, asking Nigerians to remain resolute in rallying round President Goodluck Jonathan in the continuing war.
“This is no time for us pander to political, religious or ethnic sentiments that will distract us from the compelling objective of bringing liberty to every inch of the land. Other nations faced with similar circumstances as we are now facing refused to be distracted and kept faith with their leaders.”
“Britain held on to Winston Churchill, America held on to Franklin Roosevelt, Nigeria even during a military regime held on to Yakubu Gowon. Goodluck Jonathan deserves similar treatment!”
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