Buhari Seeks Complementary Regional Effort In War On Terror

Addressing the 25th Assembly of Heads of State
and government of the African Union in
Johannesburg , South Africa on Sunday, President
Buhari said “the destructive effects of the
inhuman and criminal campaigns of the Boko
Haram insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring
countries; the Al-Shabab attacks in East Africa,
and the activities of the Al-Qaida in the Maghreb,
all bear testimony to a continent under siege”.
The Nigerian leader told the gathering that he had
adopted an approach that would work within the
framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission
(LCBC) to mobilse collective support to fight
against Boko Haram terrorists.
“I have in this regard, directed the relocation of
Nigeria’s Command Centre to place it closer to
the theatre of action. Furthermore, I have
vigorously engaged the members states of the
LCBC to better coordinate the strategies and
tactics in fighting the insurgency in the region. I
believe that this approach can be enhanced
through complimentary regional and continental
efforts,” he said.
“An Embarrassment To Us”
President Buhari acknowledge what it called a
‘positive role’ played by former Nigerian
President, Goodluck Jonathan, in averting the
feared post-election crisis and in facilitating the
peaceful transition of power.
He expressed concerns over the images in the
international mass media of African youths
getting drowned in the Mediterranean Sea on
their illegal attempts, and often times illusory
hope of attaining better life in Europe.
“It is not only an embarrassment to us as
leaders, but dehumanises our persons. Indeed,
they combine to paint a very unfavourable picture
of our peoples and countries.”
President Buhari urged all African leaders to
reverse the ‘ugly trend’.

“We must put an end to the so-called push
factors that compel our young men and women to
throw caution to the winds and risk life, limbs
and all, on this dangerous adventure.
“We must redouble our efforts to sustain the
economic development of our countries, ensure
empowerment of our youths, create more jobs,
improve and upgrade our infrastructure, and
above all continue the enthronement of a regime
of democracy, good governance and respect for
human rights and rule of law. These and other
measures that engender peace and stability must
be pursued relentlessly.
“In this connection, we must persist in our
collective endeavour to work together through the
African Union and our respective Regional
Economic Communities (RECs), to uplift our
continent and provide the African peoples the
enabling environment for the realization of their
legitimate dreams and aspirations,” the Nigerian
leader said.
He further assured the gathering of the
unflinching commitment of Nigeria to the ideals
and aspirations of the African Union as explained
in the Agenda 2063, which is geared towards
ensuring a peaceful, prosperous and integrated
Africa in the next 50 years.

Posted by Dearkefty