The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) yesterday described as misleading and unfounded, media reports that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has pledged to end the scourge of Boko Haram insurgency in the country within two months.
In a clarification, through a signed statement in Abuja, Mallam Garba Shehu, APCPCO’s Director of Media and Publicity said: “His Excellency, the President-elect is still waiting to be sworn in on May 29. After the ceremony, he would need time to study the security situation and plan strategically with the security chiefs as to the way forward. Time is of essence here. Therefore, President-elect Buhari didn’t and wouldn’t peg the decimation of terrorism from the country’s territories to just two months.
“The General was unequivocal about cleansing Boko Haram from our land; he would do a good job of it by giving a final permanent push to rid Nigeria of unscrupulous elements,” Shehu stressed.
He added that, “The President-elect said that much to the world media, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN). He never put a time-frame to when he would eliminate terrorists, and it would be unfair and mischievous for someone to ascribe to him what he hasn’t said.”
However, the president-elect has called on all Nigerians to “embrace peace this Easter and celebrate our nation’s rebirth as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
In an Easter message to Nigerians and the Christian world, personally signed by the in-coming Nigeria’s leader, and released by the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, General Buhari urged all citizens of Nigeria to unite and use the season of Easter to celebrate both the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the rebirth of the Nigerian nation.
According to the statement, “having overcome the anxiety and fear that tended to overshadow our efforts and commitments towards free and peaceful Presidential and National Assembly elections, let us move forward in the spirit of the resurrection to rebuild our nation with the values of peace and love for one another.
“Our country depends on you – the Nigerian people – to make Nigeria safe for all citizens and foreigners alike. I pledge that our administration shall strengthen all national institutions that promote harmony and national unity. As we do our best to heal our land, God, the most powerful will be on our side to rescue Nigeria from corruption, evil and anti-democratic forces that are pulling Nigeria down.” [Newswatch]
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
