The group in a release yesterday, January 21, which was signed by their chairman, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to root out those funding Boko Haram as the arms deal controversy had uncovered those to be punished for all the destruction in the north east.
The group said: “Much has been said about the sponsors of Boko Haram. With the horrifying revelations about the ‘Arms Deal’, it is no longer necessary to continue delaying the search for the real sponsors of Boko Haram. Those who collected such huge sums of money from the national treasury and converted same for their unending greed and avarice should be regarded as part and parcel of the sponsors of Boko Haram. Get them and you will get the rest.
“The people who sponsored the activities of Boko Haram or those who deliberately turned away from their official responsibilities on security issues, or those who looted the funds meant for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram, and those who spoke or continue to speak in their favour are all one and the same.
“They all individually and collectively aided and sponsored the Boko Haram insurgency. They colluded to ensure the death of our brave soldiers, our innocent people and the near total destruction of our society. Nigerians should stand by us and collectively assist to bring those responsible to book. “
The forum said since the outbreak of the Boko Haram uprising in 2009 to date, it had proffered solution on how security and social issues could be resolved, but lamented that the former administration ignored solutions preferred by the group.
It however commended the the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the generality of Nigerian compatriots who were now showing great understanding and compassion on the sorry state of affairs in the northeast of the country.
The group however regretted that some Nigerians were justifying the killings and suffering being perpetuated by Boko Haram militants on inhabitants of the region.
It said: The massive killing of our people, the wholesome destruction of our settlements, the massive humanitarian crisis faced by over two million internally displaced persons, the creation of hundreds of thousands of widows and orphans and so on, seem to be of no consequence to some Nigerians.
“It does not speak well of any Nigerian, for whatever reason, to fight or criticize the President of Nigeria or call our anti–corruption agencies names when they simply want to make offenders pay for the crimes most of them have confessed to have committed.
“We feel hurt and betrayed that some Nigerians are politicizing this despicable issue of ‘Arms Deal.’ People are rushing to our courts of law to manipulate the law, taking cover under the canopy of the constitution and misinterpreted human rights dicta to confuse the nation. Even the constitution itself has balanced interests of people against the interest of individuals. In this case, the interest of the victims should prevail when it comes to justice.
“Let those Nigerians know that thousands of Nigerians perished due to the misuse of funds meant for security, not only the ‘Arms Deal’ case but several other instances before it. Playing politics with those issues is to condone the loss of lives and the destruction of our livelihood,” the elders’
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force is revamping its operations against Boko Haram fighters in the northeast of the country by establishing a special forces command, chief of air staff, Sadique Abubakar, disclosed on Thursday, January 21.
Sadique Abubakar, who made the disclosure at the National Defence College, Abuja, during a lecture titled: “Nigerian Air Force: Challenges and Future Perspectives”, said the new command was part of the planned restructuring of NAF’s operational command to conform with contemporary demands on national security.
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