The CPC, as a Party, is outraged by the unfortunate incident of the wanton destruction of lives and property that attended the face-off between Insurgents believed to be Boko Haram and soldiers of the Joint Task Force in Baga, Borno State. The attendant ecological disruption and huge humanitarian calamity had attracted so much attention (international and local) that clearly obviates the need for the continuous passing the buck.
True, the President has called for the Probe of this needless carnage, which euphemistically means stalemated action on the matter; the imperative of pursuing the Peace option is sorer than before. The houses destroyed must be rebuilt by the Federal Government whilst massive rehabilitative efforts are put in place for the displaced victims of the combatants’ rage.
We recall that it was a PDP-led Federal Government that authorized the invasion of Odi on 20th November, 1999 on the pretense of redressing the killing of some Policemen in the Community. We have equally noted that this template of excessive force that falls far short from Internationally-accepted rules of engagement for internal peace enforcement – which successive PDP-led administrations have stridently followed – is no longer fashionable in civilized order of Human governments. We remind the Federal Government to ensure that Peace is the Pre-eminent watch-word for military engagement within the Nation-space.
Finally, we commiserate with the families of the deceased of the unfortunate incident, while praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
God bless Nigeria.
Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC.
(Tuesday, 23rd April, 2013).
