Emeka Nwapa, a journalist and development activist is the Chief Media Strategist of the Concerned Professionals Congress (CPC), an advocacy group promoting democracy, good governance and citizen engagement in Nigeria. In this interview EMEKA ODOM, he maintains that the highly-rated Nigerian Air Force, which clocks 53 on Tuesday, has boosted Nigerias pride in many positive and unprecedented ways.How would you describe the general security situation in the country, particularly in the North East where the whole talk is now about winning the peace after Boko Harams capacity to cause further havoc ha degraded'It has been very cheering and enervating in the civil advocacy community to hear and see everyday how the post-insurgency scenario is playing out. Nigerias constitutional democracy is well on course as we enter another political transition anniversary come May 29, 2017 when, for the first time in the history of this great nation, an opposition political party defeated a ruling party in an election which an incumbent president lost and even went ahead to place a historic congratulatory phone call to his rival to concede. This is unprecedented because the 2015 elections were predicted to be straw that will tear our nation into pieces. To the extent that what was speculated as the source of the greatest security threat to our survival as a nation did not happen, we owe a great of gratitude to God and those who prayed and worked behind the scene to preserve the unity, security and stability of the country. Today, Nigeria is on course because of those who, fired by nationalistic fervor, resolved that we need to remain together because we are stronger and better together. That is our courageous and gallant military. Today, virtually all the arms of the Armed Forces- the Army, Navy and the Air Force including the police and other security agencies are engaged in one form of intervention or interdiction operation across the entire country combating and suppressing one form of internal disorder or the other. Mind you, they are losing limbs and lives to keep this nation safe, secure and stable. I believe it was the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who observed succinctly during this years Armed Forces Remembrance Day Anniversary that since the end of the civil war in 1970, members of the Nigerian armed forces had not faces greater challenges than today in the face of the counter-terrorism war against the Boko Haram insurgents. Yet, this is just one battle out of the several that our service men have continued to fight with remarkable success. They have successfully battled the radicalization-driven terrorism and insurgency in the North east, cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping in the North West including the Southern Kaduna crisis and North Central and South West. Flipping the pages further are the brazen but fast-fading oil robbery, militancy and pipeline bombing and vandalism in the Niger Delta including the emerging day-light terror, kidnapping, militancy and ambush attacks on our security men and the Lagos and Ogun communities such as Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki LGAs and most recently, the spate of security threats in Ishawon community of Ikorodu. Do these not tell you that our military has a cup-full of challenges to tackle' The answer is yes but you will also agree with me that at every twist and turn of the security challenges, they have always upped their game. They have always emerged taller every inch in content, conduct and character.In very specific terms, can this be also said of the situation in the North East where we still get reports of terrorists ambush and suicide attacks on soft targets'No amount of propaganda by the remnants of the Boko Haram Terrorists can alter the fact that they have been defeated. No amount of hollow videos by the sect can prove the contrary. Even the international community knows that our military have done a wonderful job. It is no doubt that Boko Harams dreaded enclave in the Sambisa Forest, estimated at over 60,000 sq. km fell over three months ago when the Muhammadu Buhari dispensation was just less than 18 months in office. He has fulfilled his promise to exterminate the terrorists, courtesy of the gallant troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East. Today, the sect is in total disarray. The truth remains that they no longer exist.So, what do you think may form the nature of response by the Nigerian military to the grave security scenario in Ikorodu in Lagos State and the other adjoining areas where the militants have placed under their terror campaign'Your question could have been better answered if it was directed to the new spokesman at the Defence Headquarters whom I think has been doing a very fantastically good job of processing and disseminating security information to the public in a timely, pro-active, accurate and strategic manner. I have listened to some of his live radio and television interviews and commentary, he readily comes across as an sincere and passionate officer fully equipped, prepared and ready for the job. He perhaps shares this passion for job like his predecessor, Rabe Abubakar. I stand to be corrected. Now, as a civilian observer and citizen engagement advocate, I believe that the defence authorities are working out a collective and synergized response that will be both decisive and definite as we saw the Nigerian Air Force do at Areppo last year. Have you heard of any such security challenge such as pipeline vandalism and militancy in Areppo' Of course, the answer is No. In our civil advocacy engagement so far, I have come to understand, realize and appreciate, after sufficiently comprehensive study and observation that our military has some of the most creative, visionary and imaginative minds in modern warfare. Take for example how the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, as the air arm of the Armed Forces of Nigeria became the ultimate game changer in the fall of Areppo the fall of Sambisa and in the other Joint military operations across the country where its dazzling air power made the difference. Mind you, NAF will be exactly 53 years old on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. It was founded in 1964 as one of the largest in Africa in personnel, platform and performance. Im told that a NAF Anniversary Day has been organized for Makurdi, the capital of Benue State from April 2O to 22 by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, a fine officer, gentleman and thorough-bred team player who has great regard and respect for the CDS for introducing the policy of inter-agency operational synergy, intelligence and information sharing among the three services of the Armed Forces. I also gathered that NAF as an organization believes that the policy has gone a long way in bringing out the best of Nigerias air power in a manner that has not been known since its founding in 1964.Are you implying that the affected residents and communities who are desperately waiting for the military to quickly respond to the grave security situation in Ishawon-Ikorodu should expect to see NAF in action any moment from now'Just as I clearly indicated to you earlier in the course of this interview, this is a question for the new defence spokesman who I know is sufficiently versed and officially authorized to speak on such. Im afraid this is clearly beyond my capacity and authority as a bloody civilian. But if I must prognosticate without speculating, our military will respond appropriately because I know that they have the requisite security architecture and the political will backed by the support of the Nigerian people to address the situation with the precision and seriousness that it deserves. I have no doubt about that. Dont forget also that only recently the U.S government about weeks ago commended our military for dealing a deadly blow on Boko Haram in the North East and even went ahead to recommend our counter-terrorism template to countries fighting domestic terrorist attacks. What does that mean' Todays warfare is conducted in strict observance of best practices where citizens human rights rank high. For the U.S to give you a clean bill of health, it means that your human rights observance in the theatre of war must have been assessed and adjudged excellent. This is the character and quality of the military that we are talking about and proud of. This is the of Nigerian Air Force that we are talking about especially under the present CAS who has left no one in doubt about his passion, dedication and commitment to lead NAF into the new millennium. Air Marshal Sadique Abubakaris current leadership of the Nigerian Air Force is transformational and phenomenal as we have seen and will continue to see. The highly-rated Nigerian Air Force has boosted our national pride in many ways. The victory over Boko Haram is therefore the result of focused leadership by President Muhammadu Buhari, the CDS-led military and intelligence leadership of the commanders at the battle field and most significantly, the synergy, selflessness and unity of purpose being exhibited by the present crop of energetic service chiefs who are driven by sheer love for country.
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