By Richard Akintade
In order to fight Boko Haram completely, a clarion call has gone to the Media and Nigerians as a whole to demonstrate their unalloyed support to the Nigerian Army.
Famous traditional ruler in Osun state, the Olowu of Owu-Kuta, in Ayedire local government area of the state, HRM Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude, made the call while addressing a world press conference in his palace on Thursday tagged, “Support Nigerian Army – Our Army”.
The Community leader, who warned the amnesty international and other NGOs in the North against sabotaging the efforts of Nigeria Army in the fight against insurgency, said Nigerians should urgently rise against any primordial sentiment that is targeted to degrade Nigeria Army.
His word, ” I want to advice President Mohammed Buhari to leave politics aside, the insurgency is a war. Emergency could be declared in the affected area. The budget of military should not be questioned in times of insurgency particularly at the arena of war.
“Amnesty international and other NGO in the North should desist from sabotaging our efforts to destabilize the insurgency. Anything that will degrade the integrity and image of our army will not be tolerated.
“I am of the humble opinion that the submission by Amnesty International to the ICC on the Nigeria Army is destabilizing, injurious and defamatory.
“To say the Nigeria Army is guilty of murder pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i); torture, cruelty, outrageous upon personal dignity and internationally directing attacks against civilians just exposed how far away from reality the ICC is.
“I implore all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation or conviction to come together and resist this cheap blackmail against our Army.
“I consider it mischievous and malicious the timing of the release of the said report, and the usual double standard of the so-called Amnesty International in demoralizing our patriotic Army.
The Olowu added further, ” I implore all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations or convictions to come together and resist the cheap blackmail against our Army”.
According to the Olowu, media should play a patriotic role in the fight against insurgency. “I urge the media to support Nigeria Army”.
He commended the Sheu of Bornu who allowed partnership between the military and local vigilante, while urging other traditional rulers in the North to emulate him.
The traditional ruler, who hinted that he would soon begin his tour to the traditional rulers in all the six geo-political zone of the country, maintained that “unity of Nigeria should not be negotiated.
