My Nigeria…

THE Defence headquarters declared yesterday that the military would not stay a day longer in the Niger Delta once the task of restoring peace, normalcy and checkmating activities of criminals, illegal bunkerers, economic saboteurs assigned to it by the Federal Government, was achieved.
New Director of Defence Information, Col. Chris Jemiltola, at his maiden briefing in Abuja noted that the deployment of troops to the Niger Delta in particular and other trouble spots in the country was not something of joy to the government or the military because Nigeria cannot be at war with itself.

“But government took the decision to send troops there because the level of criminality, attacks on and destruction of economic assets which had grave effects on the nation’s economy and foreign investments became embarrassing and unacceptable to the country”.

“However, let me say that once the situation is assessed and it is felt there is no further need for the troops to be there, they will be withdrawn” the DDI said adding, “I think we should commend the officers and men of the military who have been mandated to leave behind, their homes, families and loved ones to go and work the fields to ensure that every Nigerian goes about peacefully in their own country”.

He continued, “We work for our political masters. Not until a decision is taken concerning peace, we will only take directives from the Commander in Chief”.

Col. Jemitola who was the immediate past Aide De Camp (ADC) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disclosed further that because of the patriotic efforts of the Joint Task Forces in the various trouble spots in the country, economic activities have returned to the Niger Delta and other areas and that people are going back to their normal lives.

“There is a check on illegal bunkering now. Criminality has gone down to the barest minimum in recent past and there is mutual respect for all citizens”, he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Emeka Onwuamegbu said, “It does not matter where Nigerian troops are sent, be it Niger Delta, North East of South West, the important thing is that in internal security situations, when crisis get out of hand and the police is handicapped, the military can be called in”.

“We (Military) don’t just wake up and get into trouble spots. We work for the federal government of Nigeria. Wherever the government ask us to go, we go. We are well trained, motivated and we have the capacity to carry out any tasks assigned to us”.

On peace enforcement operations, Gen. Emeka said, “Nigerian Army today is one of the largest contributors of troops in peacekeeping operations.

We have military observers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are not there as formed troops. If their lives are in danger, the UN will pull them out”.

Regarding Somalia, Emaka said, “We have prepared a unit of troops for deployment as requested by the United Nations. But logistics are being put in place and once these logistics are ready, we would then deploy”.

On his part, Director of Information at Naval headquarters, Commodore David Nabaida explained the situation in Niger Delta thus, “What is happening in the area is that the level of criminality there is having direct and negative impact in foreign investments for the country.

With the Gulf of Guinea and the investment opportunities it would bring to the country, the presence of the military would stabilize the situation and ensure that Nigeria derives maximum benefits”.