Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday described current activities of the Boko Haram in Gwoza, Borno State, as sheer madness, saying there can never be a republic within another republic.
Boko Haram took over Gwoza town in Borno State on August 6, and declared the town part of an Islamic caliphate on Sunday.
Obinikoro said members of the recently concluded National Conference all agreed that Nigeria would not disintegrate.
The minister, who is on a two-day tour of naval formations in the Lagos area, said delegates of the National Conference who made the pronouncement are all responsible Nigerians who believe in the unity of the country.
“They said we are all going to stay together, live together in peace and develop our country. The madness that we are witnessing today is such that is temporary and be rest assured that we have all it takes to make it as temporary as it should be”, he added.
Speaking on the nation’s flagship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) ARADU, Ambassador Obanikoro said the ship needs help for it to survive being the country’s flagship.
“It makes a lot of sense to develop it. I intend to follow up the advocacy of reviving Aradu. I admit that funding is an important factor in running a seamless army, we need to look within the system to ensure that the military is empowered for the good of the country”, he said.
The minister said President Goodluck Jonathan is poised to ensure that the move which he has started is sustained. “We are having massive injection of funds into acquisition of equipment that will raise the performance level of our military across the board-the Navy, Air Force, Army or Police to meet the challenges of the future.
“Just dealing with today’s problem is no longer attractive to the president. Yes, we will confront the issues of today but solving the issues of tomorrow today is the most sensible thing to do. The president is doing all he can in ensure that the kind of liability he inherited, those who may come after him won’t have to deal with that burden”, he said.
Sayelba Times 