The All Progressive Congress has praised President Buhari decision to meet with the presidents of neighboring nations to foster stronger ties between Nigeria and her neighbours against the threat posed by insurgent group, Boko Haram.
In a statement, the party’s national publicity secretary Lai Mohammed said President Buhari should be praised for his effort rather than condemned.
“Boko Haram, which started off as a Nigerian problem, has now assumed a regional dimension, affecting many countries in West Africa. Therefore, any solution to the crisis, if it is to endure, must be regional in nature, with Nigeria taking the lead.”
The APC spokesman said terrorism is a global menace and as such, no nation can combat terrorism alone.
”This is why even in our days in opposition, we advocated a regional solution to the crisis,” he said.
”It is baffling that some opposition politicians wanted Nigeria to go it alone against Boko Haram, even as the terrorist group has taken its battle beyond the shores of Nigeria, to such countries as Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
“It is common knowledge that the terrorists use these countries as launch pads for their attacks against Nigeria, and vice versa, and that they routinely engage in cross-boundary raids.
”It is common knowledge that Boko Haram’s tentacles have spread as far as Mali, the home base of the Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa, a splinter group of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. It is no longer a secret that Boko Haram has now, affiliated itself to the Islamic State, seeing itself as the West African chapter, of the terror group.
“How then can Nigeria effectively deal with Boko Haram without seeking the assistance of other concerned countries?”
The spokesman stated Buhari had always insisted during his campaign that the Nigerian Military was capable of routing the Boko Haram sect.
“Meaning that while there is nothing wrong in seeking the cooperation of Nigeria’s neighbours, the country has no business hiring mercenaries to lead the battle.”
