The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has warned Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and other state governors against engaging Chadian soldiers to help fight insurgency as it would be counterproductive.
CALSER’s counsel trails Gov Zulum’s visit to N’Djamena, capital of the Central African nation in January, where he met with Multinational Joint Task Force to discuss security-related issues in Borno.
Reports followed that the governor had finalised plans to employ the services of Chadian troops and CALSER believes the move would be counterproductive.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the president of the group, Princess Ajibola, revealed that Chad, like other Francophone neighbours, haven’t demonstrated genuineness of purpose in the war against insurgency.
According to the group, Chad has now become a safe haven for fleeing Boko Haram insurgents when they come under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops.
CALSER, therefore, advised Zulum and others pondering following his lead to desist from undertaking actions and commitments that are capable of breaching National Security in Nigeria.
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She said “the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to use this medium to call on the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, to ensure that his actions and inactions as governor of the state are geared towards the restoration of peace in Borno State and its environs.
“This became necessary in the light of some of the actions embarked upon by the governor in his quest to bring about peace in Borno State. While this is indeed commendable, it must be stated in unequivocal terms that such actions must be in the best interest of the country and, in conjunction with the security agencies, as anything short of this would be unacceptable and rejected in its entirety.
“It must be stated that the war against the Boko Haram terrorism has been indeed onerous, and the consequences of such cannot be overemphasized in the lives of the people of North-East Nigeria. As such, this call for great reflection in our conduct as national interest should and must always supersede personal interest.
“It is indeed common knowledge that the governor of Borno State has been hobnobbing with some neighbouring countries under the guise of finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace in Borno State and its environs.
“However, it must be known that Francophone countries indeed surround Nigeria, and France and her allies in Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria have not demonstrated a genuineness of purpose as far as the war against insurgency is concerned.
“We consequently wish to state that the governor of Borno State must be guided in this regard and desist from undertaking actions and commitments that are capable of breaching National Security in Nigeria.
“He must realize that, indeed, Nigeria faces a threat to its sovereignty from unlikely places. As such, he must do all within his mandate to be a partner of progress and not a clog in the wheel of progress”, she added.
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