By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
All Progressives Congress (APC) support group, APC Legacy Awareness and Campaign (APC – LAC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is laying a solid foundation for a secured and prosperous Nigeria that will truly work for everybody.
APC LAC made this known in a statement issued yesterday by the Youth representative in the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Ismail Ahmed, former National Publicity Secretary of APC, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman and Tolu Ogunlesi.
The group, which prides itself as the voluntary think tank of the APC, said though there are still serious challenges as regards insecurity, but that the military must be acknowledged as having done very well.
“We acknowledge that serious challenges still exist, and there is still a long way to go in restoring a robust sense of security in the country. But it is also very important to continually acknowledge the victories and successes being recorded by our military and law enforcement agencies, in the various theatres of operation across the country.
“The tide has definitely turned against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North East, and is turning against the bandits and criminals in the North West. In the South East, relative calm has returned, and efforts are ongoing to fully neutralize the militant networks that have been troubling the region. In the Coastal Areas, the full rollout of the Deep Blue and Falcon Eye surveillance and security projects is certain to deal a strong blow on the activities of pirates and militants in the weeks and months ahead”, APC LAC said in the statement.
While observing that in the last few weeks, there have been some improvements in the security situation in the country, the group said it is clearly the outcome of the renewed resolve of Nigeria’s security agencies to decisively deal with banditry, terrorism and all forms of criminality across the country.
It said Nigerians are greatly encouraged by the reports from the various theatres of operation, expressing confidence that the sacrifices of the security agents, and the Buhari Administration’s investments in arming and supporting them, will not be in vain.
It said the increased pressure being brought to bear on the insurgents was responsible for the worsening infighting and factionalization that recently resulted in the death of Abubakar Shekau, and is equally responsible for the wave of surrenders being recorded in the region.
The group said in the most recent press briefing by the Defence Headquarters, it was disclosed that more than a thousand insurgents and their families have surrendered to the military in recent weeks, including two notorious Boko Haram bomb experts.
The statement reads “Several bandits’ camps and hideouts have been bombed and destroyed in the Northwest, Northeast and North Central. Recent military operations have killed more than 150 insurgents, bandits and militants across the country; large caches of weaponry and ammunition have also been seized.
“We welcome the renewed synergy between the Army and the Air Force in the Northeast and Northwest. We equally welcome the arrival of the Nigerian Navy’s brand new Landing Ship Tank (LST), and the Nigerian Air Force’s first batch of six Super Tucson aircraft. There is so much to be optimistic about as our security agencies, under the leadership of President Buhari, intensify efforts to secure every inch of the country.
“Security challenges are best tackled by a combination of responses, which should not be limited to kinetic military action alone. The Administration’s focus on legislative reform, ease of doing business reform, and on mobilizing social investment, investment in agriculture, mining and infrastructure, are all steps aimed at directly creating the right enabling environment for jobs, investment and prosperity for the populace — and indirectly curbing insecurity.
“It is known and acknowledged that mismanagement and embezzlement of funds meant for procurement of weapons and security equipment under predecessor PDP administrations was responsible for deteriorating security situation in the country. What the country is witnessing today is the outcome of decades of mismanagement, embezzlement and underinvestment in critical security infrastructure, which today is being reversed by the APC led government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“By prioritizing investments in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and various foundational economic reforms, the Buhari Administration is laying the foundation for a Nigeria that truly works, one that will enjoy lasting security and prosperity.”
