By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
A distinguished Yoruba traditional ruler in Osun state, the Olowu of Owu-Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama has commended the Nigerian Army for its noble role in the fight against insurgents and armed banditry across the country.
The Monarch who made this commendation while speaking with Daybreak in his palace, said there was need for improved budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Defence which will bring about accelerated equipping of the Nigerian military to confront the challenges of modern urban and conventional warfare.
Oba Makama saluted the courage of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai for his professionalism despite the daunting task to contain the Boko Haram and other banditry.
He went further to plead with politicians across board not to play politics with the Armed Forces being the symbol of the nation’s unity.
The monarch also highlighted many innovations and tactical efforts of the Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai stressing that the federal government should increase the budgetary allocation for the defence ministry so as to get necessary armunition and proper welfare of members of the Armed Forces.
According to the famous monarch “I am using this medium to share my thoughts about our country and the Armed Forces. Some of you are familiar with my intervention on the need to support our Armed Forces in order to boost their morale for optimum performance. Whenever am having media interactions, I called for support for the Nigerian Armed Forces from both local and International Community since the whole world is a global village in order to defeat the Boko Haram insurgent and other groups in the country threatening our internal cohesion.
“I say with every sense of responsibility that contemporary governance has informally imposed some social-political duties
on us as Royal Father such that we can no longer fold our arms and watch things go awry.
“I salute the courage of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai for his professionalism despite the daunting task to contain the Boko Haram and other banditry I want to plead with our politicians across board not to play politics with our Armed Forces being the symbol of our unity.
“The armed forces is not only the symbol of our national unity and cohesion, it is also the defenders of our territorial integrity as its personnel sacrifice their comfort for our
peace.
“The Armed Forces is an institution above ethno-political and religious ills, the destructive factors which sets a nation back, I cannot but award a credit mark to our armed forces on their journey so far in taming the hydra-headed monster known as Boko Haram terrorists.
Many lives of our patriotic soldiers have been lost, with many injured during different clashes with the rebellious groups in the North-east and armed banditry in some North western states.
“However, recent news from Nigerian Army Headquarters has been cheery, and also gives hope that the end of those criminal elements is in sight if the tempo is sustained and, intensified when there is need for such.
“Happily, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai has again demonstrated his determination to deny the terrorists respite and as their enclaves are constantly bombarded.
“The strong demonstration of this strong resolve saw to the inauguration of the Special Motor Cycle Section of 117 Task Force Battalion’s Quick Response Group in Chibok, Borno State.
“According to Buratai the unit aims and objectives are to enhance quick counter-offensive and ‘ smoking’the terrorists
completely out of their enclaves. With this innovative idea, the insurgents have been dealt severe blows and it is just a matter of time before the Boko Haram insurgents run out of steam and fall” the monarch added.
