Boko Haram: Badeh Accepts Responsibility

Boko Haram: Badeh Accepts Responsibility

05 Nov 2014

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh
*Abba confirmed as IG
•Council of State: Oshiomhole only APC governor present
Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Tuesday accepted
full responsibility for the recent setback recorded by the Nigerian military in the North-east while fighting Boko Haram insurgents.

Badeh spoke with State House correspondents after he made  a brief appearance at the Council of State meeting in company of  his service chiefs.

He noted that it was immaterial for now if his village or any other town in the country was under the control of  Boko Haram insurgents, saying he accepted full responsibility for the military lapses.

On whether or not Nigeria was helpless in the face of Boko Haram hostility, Badeh said: “How can Nigeria be helpless? That is unfair.  If the CDS loses his hometown, it is the same thing as losing Lagos.

“Any part of Nigeria that is lost, the CDS carries the weight.

“It is immaterial whether it is my hometown, whether it is my house that was burnt or it was Emeka’s house that was burnt.

“Whoever’s house was burnt in Nigeria, the CDS is pained.”

The council, which met for over four hours, also deliberated on discrimination across the country, as well as the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Meanwhile, the Police Council yesterday  confirmed the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Suleiman Abba, as the new substantive IG.

The confirmation was made at its meeting at the Presidential Villa.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of Council of State meeting, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the council was briefed of the success recorded by Nigeria in curtailing EVD, as well as the issue of indigeneship which had triggered discrimination across the country.

Also briefing journalists alongside his Akwa Ibom and Kogi State counterparts, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said after reviewing Abba's curriculum vitae, his level of competence by those who had worked with him at one time or the other, the council unanimously agreed that the acting IG be confirmed as a substantive IG.

He said council, accordingly, advised Jonathan who accepted the advice and appointed Abba as the substantive IG.

According to Oshiomhole, the  council recognised that the police alone cannot secure lives and property without the cooperation and collaboration of every Nigerian and agreed that the governors should do whatever they could to assist the federal government in providing resources for the force.

"We also agreed to do whatever we can to  support the police to provide some resources to complement federal government's effort to see that the police have all that they need to ensure effective policing of the Nigeria state, so that it can guarantee and ensure protection of lives and property.

"Moreso that we are approaching elections and naturally this is the peak of political activities and there are security issues that are associated with politicking and electioneering and we all agreed that everything must be done to ensure that this  season everybody played according to the rules and that the police do its job dispassionately so that Nigerians can look forward to the elections without fear.

"On the whole, it was a good meeting and people expressed confidence that under the new IG the police will go through radical reform and become a far more competent  police force that Nigerians can trust and respect," the governor said.

On the recent call by the his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the sack of the IG, Oshiomhole said: "Well, I think the issue is not about the person of Abba. I think the issue you are referring to is the decision of the IG to withdraw the security details of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

"I'm not aware before then that anybody had issues, it is the decision of police which shocked many of us,  myself inclusive that has led to those sentiments. But incidentally, this issue was not discussed at council because as the  president advised, the matter is in court so the council could not discuss it.

"I'm clear that the IG must see Nigeria for what it is, it is a multi-party democracy, he must act according to the police law not according to the police convenience, these are my personal views. And the fact that he has been confirmed doesn't mean if he doesn't play according to the rules I have not forfeited my right to revise my position."

Reacting to his confirmation, Abba said: "I must tell you this is a happy moment but is also a moment of sober reflection. Reflection on the responsibilities, on expectations, certainly I have to work hard to ensure that I meet up with the expectations of the office.

"Truly, Nigerians and in fact all the people in Nigeria deserve the best from us so that we make the environment safer and secured. I assure you having reflected on all these we will ensure that we manage all the resources in the charge of the Nigerian police, to ensure they are used judiciously for the safety and security of Nigeria."

On the heavy criticism that trailed the withdrawal of the police aides of the Speaker and his alleged partisanship, Abba said: "Well, that is a matter before the court and is subjudice for me to comment on it. I wouldn't want to have any problem with the judiciary."

On whether is concerned that the matter is heating up the polity, he said: "Well, it is still a matter before the court and I think whatever consequences it has on the polity we have to wait for the out come."
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, was absent at the Council of State meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tambuwal had announced his defection last week  from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. All the APC governors were also absent at the meeting which it started at about 11:35a.m.
Also absent at the meeting were former ex- military Heads of State, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar.

However, in attendance were four former leaders including Generals Yakubu Gowon, and Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan.

The governors present included Oshiomhole, Akpabio, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Idris Wada (Kogi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo)

Also present were Senate President, Senator David Mark, Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed and National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN) Mohammed Lawal Uwais and Idris Legbo Kitigi were at the meeting.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim and Chief of Staff to the President, Jones Arogbofa, were also present, as well as the service chiefs.