Nigeria will win the war against Boko Haram the same way the country defeated Biafra - Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria has said that Nigeria will win the war against Boko Haram the same way the country defeated Biafra secessionist during the civil war. The civil war which occurred from 1967 to 1970 was an attempt by some states to break away from Nigeria and establish an independent Biafra state.

According to Daily Trust, the former president expressed optimism that the country would put an end to the insurgency. He said this on Monday, October 12 after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on his delegation’s mission to study Columbia’s efforts in the fight against the country’s largest rebel group, FARC.

Obasanjo said it was not until every Boko Haram fighter had died before the country could claim to have defeated the insurgency. Rather, Boko Haram could be considered defeated as soon as the army had the upper hand and other measures had been put in place.
Obasanjo said: “Oh yes. If we won the civil war, we can win this one. But like the Columbian said, we are not waiting until we kill off every insurgent to say we have won. I believe that once the military has the upper hand, other measures that have to be taken will be put in place. There will be measures of socio-economic development, education, employment. All that has to go into the process of eventually winning the war and saying here is Uhuru”.

He also said that the three month target that the president gave to the army to defeat the insurgency would help them to have a focus. “The president must give a target. When you give somebody a target, you give him something to aspire to, giving him an objective.

Target is not cast in stone. I believe that if you are talking of getting the upper hand, gradually, we are getting the upper hand. “We are not there yet, but we are getting close. And once we are getting upper hand, we move on and do other things.”

He added that he was enjoying his retirement: “I am enjoying it wonderfully well. Otherwise, I will not be here with you.” President Buhari sent Olusegun Obasanjo to Guinea Bissau to resolve the political apprehension that was going on in the country. The move was considered a way to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy in Africa.

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Aliu Muhammed Jamiu is a Young Nigerian Entertainment blogger,Web designer.Hook me on twitter @JAMIXY and facebook @ Jamiu Aliu