B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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AN OPEN LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT…

His Excellency Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan,

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria

Three-Arms Zone,

Abuja Federal Capital Territory

Nigeria.

His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan,

Bring-Our-Girls-Back Action-Plan: 10-Point Agenda of Action On Boko Haram

It is with deep sense of feeling for the entire country and in particular the families of

the abducted girls that I am writing this letter to Your Excellency. It is possible that I

am repeating some of the statements that some people might have made privately or

publicly on this subject. If that is the situation, then it only means that any such

statement is the necessary way to go. If, however, I am the first to suggest anything

in this letter, then do consider whatever it is as it is better to act now while the ‘iron is

still hot.’

The Nigerian nation has been actively involved in supporting and initiating peace-

keeping and reconciliatory operations across and outside Africa.

A lot of human and material resources have been invested and expended in the unity

of the country, the continent and the world at large. Examples of such exercises

include – ECOMOG, UN-Peace-Keeping Operations at various times within and

outside Africa.

These operations have earned Nigeria the needed goodwill to fight and win any

aggression by hoodlums who manifest in the form of Boko-Haram or any other

nuisance to the peace and security of the Nigerian state. Moreover, The Armed

Forces and military personnel in the various formations of the Nigerian security units

are capable of handling the various uprisings by pockets of opportunists and

terrorists. We all only need to address the situation as they are from the points of our

collective strength.

To accept the supremacy of some untrained militia who are equipped with money

from within the system is to say that any aggrieved person can take to the streets

and start bombing several parts of the country in order to make their grievances

known. That, as a democratic society is simply unacceptable.

B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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The popular view that the Boko Haram operates in some ‘Forest’ in the north-eastern

parts of Nigeria also needs to be examined carefully. Having travelled by road from

Ndjamena (in Chad Republic) to Zaria through Maiduguri and Kano, I know from

personal experience that there is no forest in those arid desert regions. I often

wonder how vehicles manage to navigate their routes as everywhere seemed like

the road.

If the combined Air-Force and the Regular Army intends to do sweeping operations

in the area, no Boko-Haram operative can withstand their operations. My only worry

is that there has to be genuine will on the part of the Armed Forces. A situation

where the Maiduguri Barracks’ Armoured Tank was disabled while the Boko-Haram

entered and released their captives makes one feel that some sympathisers of those

groups are working from within the Nigerian Military formations. This must be

addressed if the Nigerian Military must fight and win wars against the enemies

destroying the nation.

The action of Boko Haram clearly is a huge insult to the calibre of Officers and men

of the Nigerian Armed Forces whose combat-readiness have earned them a place

among their compares all over the world. These distinguished serving and retired

Officers of our Infantry and other parts of the Military have risked, and in some cases

sacrificed their own lives in the course of their duty.

While the nation is not under any external aggression, to be harassed by a pocket of

irresponsible hoodlums in the shape of Boko Haram is a disservice to the living as

well as the departed souls of our gallant soldiers.

These wicked, self-seeking, ambitious individuals must not be spared whenever they

are found.

Oftentimes, we need to realise that Mr President is not and has never been a military

officer. However, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria, all serving and retired Generals, Officers and Men of the

Nigerian Armed Forces and security units are accountable to Your Excellency. Your

Excellency only needs to assign them to duties as the situation may require.

It is important to always remember that – without some conflict, there may be no real

or permanent peace. Events all over the world have proved this time and time again.

Below is a 10-Part Action Plan that I am confident that would address the menace of

the Boko Haram in the language that they would clearly understand. With the scale

at which they are operating, it is impossible for them to find any hiding place from our

combined air and ground combatant attack if they (the Nigerian Military) mean to

subdue the terrorists. The following is my opinion of how to dislodge the group from

wherever they may be hiding:

B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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1. Mr President (Nigeria) should call an emergency meeting of the Lake Chad

Basin Commission with all heads of the member countries, especially Nigeria,

Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Central African Republic

2. The President should appoint a combined (Joint Military Services) –

Amphibious Brigade Commanders for all the States affected by the Boko

Haram aggression

3. The President should advice all the Civilian Governors to proceed on a 90-

Day leave while the military operation lasts – It is a State of Emergency

4. Let the appointed Military Commanders (Serving or retired officers) man the

affairs of the respective states for the period

5. Appoint Former Military Head of State General Abdul-Salam Abubakar (Rtd)

to coordinate the military activities during the 90-day period

6. Put Markurdi Air Command, Kaduna 1 Mechanised Division Army Formation

and all military units in Ibadan, Enugu and other important (Army, Navy and

Air-Force) Units to be on the red-alert for the combined military operation

7. Appoint Retired or serving Army, Naval or Air-Force Officers of the equivalent

rank of Major-General to oversee the emergency operations in each of the

affected states

8. Inform each of the neighbouring countries of the need to search and deal with

any community that has been aiding or abetting the Boko Haram group

wherever they are, within or outside Nigeria. They should cooperate with

Nigeria’s efforts at this trying time

9. Mark all military vehicles with security codes to prevent any possible incidents

of cross-firing casualties

10. Give the neighbouring countries 48 hours’ notice prior to commencing the

Boko Haram Military campaign. I am confident that they are not hiding in outer

space. They would be found

Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you

ADEOYE ADEWOLU