Boko Haram War: Between Buhari, Goodluck and the Northeast

Northeast Nigeria - the epicentre of most of Boko Haram’s frightening atrocities, has stories to tell, now and in the future. The stories will be punctuated by the names Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, Boko Haram and toxic leadership.

The Goodluck Jonathan chapter will be inundated with the sloppy handling of the Boko Haram war by the government at the centre, which led to the painful displacement of a large number of people from their homes, incessant bombing of targets at will by Boko Haram, destruction of schools & worship centers. In addition, most land for subsistent agriculture became inaccessible; fear to send wards to schools was constantly instilled in parents. The Goodluck Jonathan regime did not wake up to its responsibilities until at the eleventh hour- when they wanted to win the 2015 presidential elections. Fortunately for Nigeria, the people of the northeastern states torn by Boko Haram senseless war- Borno, Yobe, Adamawa Gombe and Bauchi rejected Goodluck Jonathan. 

The majority of the people in the northeast have confidence in President Buhari’s political will to win the war against Boko Haram, and they are very happy with the level of successes recorded by the military so far. The people of the northeast are experiencing the difference between the sloppy handling of the war by Goodluck’s regime and the doggedness and commitment being shown by the Buhari government.

Anyone who comes to the northeast now will see the obvious resolve of the present government to win the war- real-time pictures of success by the military; confidence on the faces of the soldiers on ground; the number of war planes and their activities in skies especially from Yola airport will certainly tell any doubting Thomases that Buhari is matching his words with action. When the 2015 presidential election was postponed, a foreign journalist told Buhari that the election was postponed because of Boko Haram. Buhari answered, “What is Boko Haram?” A commonsense definition of that statement by Buhari is that Boko Haram does not have the capacity to dictate to Nigeria. 

Buhari is getting a massive approval from the northeast, because people can now see that the military is in the offensive mode- taking the war to Boko Haram not waiting for Haram to come. Now Boko Haram are being chased out of villages and their camps in bushes, unlike before when they were capturing big towns and annexing local government areas and renaming them.

The people of the northeast are with Buhari, because they now see the Nigerian soldiers are very confident; fully kitted; well-armed and tackling Boko Haram head on. The people of the Northeast are appreciative of Buhari’s approach to the war- because now, the rights of people and their humanity are always protected by the soldiers while the war rages. People now see the military as their shield and protectors unlike before when they feared both Boko Haram and the military.

With Buhari at the helms of affairs, most people in the northeast believe the war will soon be won and most common people now have confidence to give vital information to constituted authorities that will help the government in winning the war.

Buhari is winning the Boko Haram war, the people of the northeast are happy and have strong confidence in the commander-in-chief and the feet on the ground.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State, zaymohd@yahoo.com, 08036070980.