strategies that will make it impossible for members of the sect to
have contacts with the indigenes of any community.
Besides, there has to be a change of policy as well as setting up
operational command bases under the command of the president in areas
prone to Boko Haram attacks.
These declarations were made Monday in Benin City by a former Chief of
Army Staff, General Chris Alli, on the occasion of launch of Ogbemudia
Foundation as part of the 80th birthday celebration of two-time
Governor of defunct of the old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.
Alli who spoke while delivering a lecture on the topic "Reshaping the
Nigerian Army Changing Security Environment," also called for the
establishment of a foreign unit to monitor Boko Haram interaction with
terrorists operating outside Nigeria.
According to him, "Activities of Boko Haram in the northern part of
Nigeria has become major security threat, as the sect pursues an
extremist ideology seeking to establish an absolute Islamic state
starting with Borno State.
"The sect's objective is to destroy the present democratic practice
and impose its own brand of government."
Alli therefore urged the Federal Government to provide medical
services and basic amenities to individuals affected by Boko Haram
activities as well as providing services that Boko Haram could not
provide.
He noted that the army cannot execute many of its tasks because it
lacked "significant airlift and sealift capabilities," noting that
ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria could have been well managed by
the police if not for the teeming jobless youths and proliferation of
arms."
He said, "The political transformation of Nigeria will undoubtedly
have a major influence on the Nigerian Army and its future planning.
Its manpower policies will have to change dramatically in the near
future.
"By the year 2015, much of the steam from the boilers on internal
political violence which at present necessitates the deployment of the
military in support of the police will hopefully have been used up
thus relieving both the military and police of this burden and
allowing them to get on with their proper tasks.
"Unfortunately, there can be no certainty of these developments taking
place as the hope is dependent on and influenced by the economic
growth of Nigeria."
Also in his speech at the occasion, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo
State disclosed that it was Dr. Ogbemudia that instigated his contest
for the governorship of the state when he was President of the Nigeria
Labour Congress.
He said Ogbemudia's achievements called for celebration by all sons of
the old Midwest region.
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon whose speech was read by
first civilian governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,
recalled how Ogbemudia helped him after the 1975 military coup.
He described Ogbemudia as an action governor during his administration
that got the people to keep Nigeria one.
Ogbemudia in his speech called for more autonomy for states in Nigeria
with corresponding increase in fiscal allocation.
He said, "Derivation principle should be base on 50 per cent to
encourage local enterprise. If however, confederation and zonal
aggregation are favoured, there should be mid-west zone of Edo and
Delta States."
Ogbemudia urged state government to encourage private sector
participation and eventual takeover of sports development.
He said his foundation is to help create awareness for diabetes and to
make people know more about the disease as well as provide treatment.
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