President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday travelled to Borno to celebrate
the Independence Anniversary with soldiers fighting Boko Haram.
According to a statement by Olatokunbo Adesanya, the spokesperson of
the Nigerian Air Force, the president was received at an Air Force base
by service chiefs and the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.
“Immediately after the brief reception at the NAF Base, President
Buhari was airlifted with a NAF Agusta 109 Light Utility Helicopter to
the venue of the celebrations in Maimalari Barracks,” Mr. Adesanya said.
“While addressing the frontline personnel, the president expressed
the nation’s gratitude for the sacrifices being made by members of the
Armed Forces. He added that without their efforts, the relative peace
being enjoyed by Nigerians would not have been possible.
“He therefore commended them and promised that the nation would not
spare expenses in ensuring the welfare of military personnel as well as
in further enhancing their capacity.”
The trip is believed to have been made after the televised
Independence Day broadcast by the president wherein he highlighted the
achievements of his administration and the challenges being faced.
President Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, also provided more information on the president’s visit.
In an impromptu speech he made after inspecting the military guard of
honour, President Buhari praised the gallantry of the Armed Forces for
the successes recorded in defeating terrorism in the North-East and
lawlessness in the Niger Delta and gave assurances that the country’s
Armed Forces will be equipped with the best the country can afford, Mr.
Shehu said in a statement.
“Under this leadership, there will be resources as much as the
country can afford to support your operations. As long as you live and
in service, your rights will be guarded jealousy,” the president said.
He asked members of the three arms of the military to return the gesture by being steadfast and loyal.
“You must stand firm for your country. The centre is determined to
hold. You must be loyal to the centre. If Nigeria breaks, you are the
first line of losers so you must stand firm for your selves and for the
country. The security of the country is in your hands and in the hands
of God,” he stressed.
President Buhari reiterated an earlier warning in his National Day
Broadcast that the country will not break up under his watch and
dismissed those agitating for its division as dreamers who were not born
when the country went through a debilitating civil war in which two
million lives were lost.
“Those who are making noises were not born, so they don’t know what
we went through. They don’t know. I like to remind you that whatever
happens, you are at the front lines of the defence of the citizens
wherever they live. This administration is prepared to protect all
citizens residing in all parts of the country.”
The president commended the fortitude of the wounded-in-action
soldiers who are receiving treatment and wished them quick recovery when
he met them in a special tent.
Mr. Buhari also inspected several military equipment, newly-acquired
and those refurbished put on display as well as some of the new
acquisitions of the Air Force that included night-vision Mi 35 attack
helicopters.
In his welcome speech at the ceremony, the Chief of Defence Staff,
Gabriel Olonisakin, commended the president for showing a lot of care
for the Armed Forces.
He assured the president that the country’s military will continue to
be loyal to the administration and expressed their readiness to
guarantee the sovereignty of the nation and the security of its people.
The defence chief said the visit by the president will rejig and
boost the spirit of the Armed Forces, assuring that with better morale,
they will fight better.
The president was joined in cutting the anniversary cake by the host
governor, Kashim Shettima; the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the Chief of
Defence Staff, General Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur
Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadiq; the Chief of Naval
Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas; the Theatre Commander, Ibrahim Attahir and the
Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi.
“The visit of President Buhari went a long way in boosting the morale
of the frontline personnel, who were obviously excited at seeing their
C-in-C,” Mr. Adesanya said.