Boko Haram: Badeh Accepts Responsibility
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.
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