Following the ceaseless killings of innocent citizens by Boko Haram insurgents particularly in the northeastern part of the country, the Christians and Muslims Youth Forum (CMYF) has called on retired military Generals from the region to intervene.The group, which called on retired Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and T.Y. Danjuma to assemble other northern leaders to brainstorm on how to safeguard the region and Nigeria from the menace of terror, charged General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to lead the team.
The group believes that the northern elders have the capacity to persuade the insurgents.
National President of CMYF, Yusuf Ibrahim, made the call yesterday at a press conference organised in Abuja to address the security situation in the country.
“We call on all retired military Generals from the North to be led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Buhari, Gen. Babangida and Gen. T.Y. Danjuma to assemble other gallant men to brainstorm on how to safeguard the northern region and Nigeria from terrorists.
“Why we call on the northern elders is because if you say you are not party to the situation, why do you provide your land as a field where such ‘football’ should be played? If all these people contribute their quotas, as we know that they have the capacity to curtail this situation, Nigeria will be at rest. By the time we finish from this side, we will equally go to the other regions,” he said.
He stressed that all former security personnel from the zone should also follow suit with their brilliant contributions.
Ibrahim, however, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to relieve the National Security Adviser (NSA), Dasuki Sambo; Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh; Minister of Defence, Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd), and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, of their appointments if the spate of killings by the insurgents continues.
Said he: “President Jonathan is not the Chief of Defence Staff. Though he is Commander-in-Chief, he only oversees, and appoints some persons to supervise some sections. That is why we are calling on him, that some of these people have failed in their assignments. They should be removed if they cannot do their jobs effectively, so that issues can be settled within the security department and the Nigerian government.
“We further advise the President to appoint capable, young and determined officers to handle the security challenges in the country, as we say enough is enough.”
The group’s president, who applauded President Jonathan’s partnership with international community towards tackling the threat, commended the civilian JTF and other civil rights groups that are involved in complementing security efforts to rescue the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.
“We maintain that the Chibok schoolgirls should be released unconditionally,” he said.
