Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh yesterday said it was not relevant whether his hometown in Adamawa State was captured by Boko Haram or not.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents on the Islamic sect’s exploits in his state, Air Chief Marshal Badeh said it was immaterial whether the captured place is his home town or not.
According to him, he is pained by any part of the country that is under attack or captured by the insurgents.
He said: “How can Nigeria be helpless? If CDS loses his hometown, it is the same thing as losing Lagos. Any part of Nigeria that is lost, the CDS carries the weight.
“It is immaterial whether it is my hometown, whether it is my house that is burnt or it is Emeka’s house that is burnt. Whoever’s house is burnt in Nigeria, the CDS is pained.”
Briefing reporters at the end of the Council of State and Police Council meetings presided by President Goodluck Jonathan, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), briefed the Council on the security measures taken by the government.He said that the council praised the President for his efforts to secure every part of the country.
According to him, the negotiation with Boko Haram is yet to be concluded.
Akpabio said: “A major issue discussed today was the issue of the security of the nation. We received a report from the National Security Adviser on the security of the nation. He briefed council on the current war on insurgency and explanations were given on issue of Chibok girls.
“Council was satisfied that the defence ministry and all the agencies have taken the right steps and the President is on course and sooner or later Nigerians would hear good news, but we urge Nigerians to be patient and that the issues of terrorism are not issues that could be finished within a day of two.
“There are some instances in which countries had to contain with insurgency but in the case of Nigeria, we said we must find practical means of bringing insurgency to an end in the shortest possible time so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed.
On “agreement” with Boko Haram, Akpabio said: “The NSA was of the opinion that high level contact with the Republic of Chad was made and that some persons who acted on behalf of Boko Haram and who claimed to have authority also had discussions with them and there are some Nigerian officials with them and of course, no agreement has been reached yet, it is just that the press probably misunderstood what was reported, the discussions are on-going.”
He said the President will do everything possible to secure the release of over the 200 secondary school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State in April.
He said: “What came out of the NSA briefings was that the President will do everything possible to ensure the release of those young girls and to ensure protection of lives and property and that will include dialogue, where you can have the people to dialogue with because you cannot dialogue with people that are faceless and therefore every opportunity must be explored to ensure peace return to the region.”
He said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health also briefed the Council on measures taken in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.
“Council was very appreciative of the efforts of the President and congratulated Mr. President and appreciated him for his leadership in ensuring that the Ebola disease was rooted out of Nigeria.”
“Council sympathises with the families of the victims of the Ebola disease but thanked the all the health officials and personnel involved in the entire saga.”
“Council noted that out of over 350 people quaratined because of the Ebola virus disease, that not more than 16 to 19 people were affected and out of that the survival rate was above 70 per cent.”
“Council was briefed that the WHO had certified the country Ebola-free nation and it is highly commendable and Nigerians should be well vigilant and the borders should be well monitored to ensure that we do not have a second Sawyer visiting Nigeria and causing havoc in the entire nation.”
“For Mr. president, the Federal Ministry of Health and all the states of the Federation, including Rivers, Lagos and Enugu states involved in the entire Ebola saga, were commended for the vigilance and all Nigerians for the unity of purpose, for standing behind the President and for cooperating and collaborating with health officials to ensure that that scourge was immediately arrested and stamped out of Nigeria.
According to him, the Council also looked at the issue of discrimination in the country.
He said: “The Council looked at the issue of discrimination. There was a committee that was set up, headed by Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, and he presented the report and the council condemned all acts of discrimination across board whether it was gender discrimination, tribalistic discrimination or whether it was discrimination on account of height, weight or state of origin or religion. It was totally condemned in its totality.”
Source: The Nation
Fielding questions from State House correspondents on the Islamic sect’s exploits in his state, Air Chief Marshal Badeh said it was immaterial whether the captured place is his home town or not.
According to him, he is pained by any part of the country that is under attack or captured by the insurgents.
He said: “How can Nigeria be helpless? If CDS loses his hometown, it is the same thing as losing Lagos. Any part of Nigeria that is lost, the CDS carries the weight.
“It is immaterial whether it is my hometown, whether it is my house that is burnt or it is Emeka’s house that is burnt. Whoever’s house is burnt in Nigeria, the CDS is pained.”
Briefing reporters at the end of the Council of State and Police Council meetings presided by President Goodluck Jonathan, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), briefed the Council on the security measures taken by the government.He said that the council praised the President for his efforts to secure every part of the country.
According to him, the negotiation with Boko Haram is yet to be concluded.
Akpabio said: “A major issue discussed today was the issue of the security of the nation. We received a report from the National Security Adviser on the security of the nation. He briefed council on the current war on insurgency and explanations were given on issue of Chibok girls.
“Council was satisfied that the defence ministry and all the agencies have taken the right steps and the President is on course and sooner or later Nigerians would hear good news, but we urge Nigerians to be patient and that the issues of terrorism are not issues that could be finished within a day of two.
“There are some instances in which countries had to contain with insurgency but in the case of Nigeria, we said we must find practical means of bringing insurgency to an end in the shortest possible time so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed.
On “agreement” with Boko Haram, Akpabio said: “The NSA was of the opinion that high level contact with the Republic of Chad was made and that some persons who acted on behalf of Boko Haram and who claimed to have authority also had discussions with them and there are some Nigerian officials with them and of course, no agreement has been reached yet, it is just that the press probably misunderstood what was reported, the discussions are on-going.”
He said the President will do everything possible to secure the release of over the 200 secondary school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State in April.
He said: “What came out of the NSA briefings was that the President will do everything possible to ensure the release of those young girls and to ensure protection of lives and property and that will include dialogue, where you can have the people to dialogue with because you cannot dialogue with people that are faceless and therefore every opportunity must be explored to ensure peace return to the region.”
He said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health also briefed the Council on measures taken in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.
“Council was very appreciative of the efforts of the President and congratulated Mr. President and appreciated him for his leadership in ensuring that the Ebola disease was rooted out of Nigeria.”
“Council sympathises with the families of the victims of the Ebola disease but thanked the all the health officials and personnel involved in the entire saga.”
“Council noted that out of over 350 people quaratined because of the Ebola virus disease, that not more than 16 to 19 people were affected and out of that the survival rate was above 70 per cent.”
“Council was briefed that the WHO had certified the country Ebola-free nation and it is highly commendable and Nigerians should be well vigilant and the borders should be well monitored to ensure that we do not have a second Sawyer visiting Nigeria and causing havoc in the entire nation.”
“For Mr. president, the Federal Ministry of Health and all the states of the Federation, including Rivers, Lagos and Enugu states involved in the entire Ebola saga, were commended for the vigilance and all Nigerians for the unity of purpose, for standing behind the President and for cooperating and collaborating with health officials to ensure that that scourge was immediately arrested and stamped out of Nigeria.
According to him, the Council also looked at the issue of discrimination in the country.
He said: “The Council looked at the issue of discrimination. There was a committee that was set up, headed by Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, and he presented the report and the council condemned all acts of discrimination across board whether it was gender discrimination, tribalistic discrimination or whether it was discrimination on account of height, weight or state of origin or religion. It was totally condemned in its totality.”
Source: The Nation
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