*Pledges
better deal for south east, to build second N’Bridge
• ‘President
works from home as rodents invaded office’
President
Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed the military chiefs and heads of other
security agencies in the country to immediately tame threats to the peace and
unity of
the nation.
He gave the
directive during a three-hour closed-door meeting with the service chiefs,
including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of
Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas who was
represented.
Also at the
meeting were the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris; National
Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongunu (rtd) and the
Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.
Briefing
State House correspondents after the meeting, Gen. Olonishakin said the
directive by President Buhari was for the military to checkmate the Boko Haram
menace in the north east and the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) in the South East. He said they were further directed to protect the
unity of the country as well as lives and property of Nigerians wherever they
reside.
Specifically,
he said, the security chiefs were charged by the president to enhance their
operational strategies and ensure that troops carry out their assignments
diligently.
On whether
there was a directive from President Buhari on the activities of IPOB, the CDS
said: “All security threats were treated one after the other, ranging from
terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash and IPOB issue. Comments were
made as to what to do as regards those issues.”
On the
renewed onslaught against Boko Haram, he said, “On the Boko Haram issue, you
all know it is an asymmetric warfare. It is not that the Boko Haram have
stepped up their game, it is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been
the problem. We are working with the security agencies and the intelligence
agencies to make sure that we address that menace,” he said.
Also
yesterday in Abuja, President Buhari assured that his administration would
carry the south east geopolitical zone along especially in the areas of
appointments and provision of infrastructure.
He gave the
assurance while receiving a coalition of south east youths group who were at
the Aso Rock Villa gate to declare support for him.Receiving the group on
behalf of Buhari at the gate leading to the Villa, Special Adviser to the
President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina assured that the administration
would specifically pay attention to roads in the region, including the
construction of the Second Niger bridge as well as appointments.
Earlier,
leader of the coalition with the name “South east youths for Buhari”, Steve
Anyata said the reason for the visit was, among others, to inform the president
that while he was away on medical vacation, some youths from the north issued a
quit notice to Igbo to leave the northern zone before October 1.
All these
happened at the Presidential Villa as the presidency explained why construction
giant, Julius Berger is carrying out renovation in the office of Buhari.
The
president who returned to Nigeria last Saturday resumed work on Monday but
operated from his official residence instead of the main office in Aso Rock.
A presidency
source told The Guardian yesterday that the construction firm had already begun
renovation, hence the temporary halt to the president’s activities in the main
office situated within the Villa.
Confirming
the development, Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir
Ahmad, explained through his twitter handle@BashirAhmaad why Buhari is working
from home. “Some renovations are on going at the office. He’ll be back to the
main office after the works,” he twitted.
It was
learnt that the renovation was a result of damage rodents had caused after
invading the Buhari’s office.A foreign news agency quoted Garba Shehu, Senior
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity as saying that while Buhari was away
on a medical follow-up in the United Kingdom (UK), rats had a field day with
the furniture, cables and air-conditioning units in his office.
“He has used
the residential office for many years. What is important is that the job gets done.
Whether he does it from his bedroom or his sitting room or his anteroom — it
does not matter. Let the job be done. And the job will be done,” he said.
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