By Lawrence Olaoye
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall, Alex Badeh, yesterday assured the nation that the 2015 general election would hold in the North-east region of the country currently being ravaged by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
Badeh’s assurance is coming on the heels of apprehension in certain quarters that the troubled region may not be conducive enough for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the citizens to perform their civic responsibilities.
The CDS made the commitment while briefing State House Correspondents after officially briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on the situation reports on the military onslaught against the insurgents in the North-east in his Aso Villa residence.
Badeh also gave the hope that the military is winning the war against terrorism in the country urging the people to continuously support the armed forces.
He assured “We are certainly not losing it (war against terror). We are winning the war. Don’t worry, Nigerians should have faith in their military. The nation will win this war.”
Badeh also told newsmen that the military is recovering some territories hitherto overwhelmed by the insurgents saying normal life would soon return to those places.
“Normal life is back in Mubi and around that place. We are liberating more and more communities. People are moving in, life is returning back to normal gradually.”
Commenting on the activities of fifth columnists in the army, the CDS said the authorities would take care of such in their own way.
On the purpose of the meeting with the President, he said “Of course, you are aware of the security situation in the country, the President thought it fit to call us this morning for us to come and brief him about the current situation of things. We have told the President exactly where we are and our future plans. As you know, we can’t talk about our future plans here that will mean us telling the enemy what we are doing.”
